From Doubt to Discipline: My Bhagavad Gita Experience
As a student, I have always been told that discipline, self-confidence, and consistency are the keys to success. But honestly, these are the things I struggle with the most. I am in Class 10 now, a crucial year that builds the foundation for my future. However, because of indiscipline and lack of focus, I have faced difficulty in coping up with my studies. Each time I get poor marks, I always feel unmotivated and upset. My parents and teachers scold me, and I often doubt my abilities.
In my school, we have to always chant Bhagavad Gita verses in circle time during pooja . At first, I found it boring and didn’t understand why we had to chant and know about it. Even the top students in my class, including me, didn’t like to chant the verses. The teacher would often ask us to chant the verses, but we didn’t enjoy doing it. One day, out of frustration, I stood and asked her, “Ma’am, why should we chant these shlokas? Will they help us to get better marks?” She smiled and said, “These teachings will help you lead a balanced and successful life.Its not chanted for marks”.
Back then, I didn’t take her words seriously nor get convinced with what she said. But one evening, When I was scrolling through my phone ,I came across a short video about the Bhagavad Gita. It made me curious. I decided to visit a Sanskrit professor near my home who teaches the Gita course online. I asked her two questions:
- Why should I read the Bhagavad Gita?
She replied, “The Gita is not just a religious book; it’s a guide for life. It helps students develop focus, discipline, emotional strength, and a positive mindset.” - How will the Bhagavad Gita help me in my studies?
She shared four key teachings with the 4 verses from the Gita that completely changed my perspective: - Focus on Effort, Not Results
I often stressed about my marks rather than the effort I put in. This created anxiety and fear of failure. For this she explained the below verse :ಕರ್ಮಣ್ಯೇವಾಧಿಕಾರಸ್ತೇ ಮಾಫಲೇಷು ಕದಾಚನ ।
ಮಾ ಕರ್ಮಫಲಹೇತುರ್ಭೂರ್ಮಾ ತೇ ಸಂಗೋಽಸ್ತ್ವಕರ್ಮಣಿ॥ (Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
It means that we should focus on our efforts and not worry about the results. This helped me understand that if I give my best, results will follow naturally.
- Stay Balanced in Success and Failure
Whenever I scored well, I became overconfident. But when I failed, I felt frustrated and hopeless. For this ,She highlighted the below verse and explained:
ಸುಖದುಃಖೇ ಸಮೇ ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಲಾಭಾಲಾಭೌ ಜಯಾಜಯೌ ।
ತತೋ ಯುದ್ಧಾಯ ಯುಜ್ಯಸ್ವ ನೈವಂ ಪಾಪಮವಾಪ್ಸ್ಯಸಿ ॥ (Bhagavad Gita 2.38)
This means we should treat success and failure equally and continue working hard without being too attached to the results.
- Believe in Yourself
Many times, I compared myself to others and felt like giving up. For this she said :
ಉದ್ಧರೇದಾತ್ಮನಾತ್ಮಾನಂ ನಾತ್ಮಾನಮವಸಾದಯೇತ್ ।
ಆತ್ಮೈವ ಹ್ಯಾತ್ಮನೋ ಬಂಧುರಾತ್ಮೈವ ರಿಪುರಾತ್ಮನಃ ॥
(Bhagavad Gita 6.5)This verse taught me that I should lift myself up and not let negative thoughts bring me down. My mind can be my best friend or my worst enemy, depending on how I train it.
- Control the Mind
One of my biggest struggles for me is focusing during my studies. My mind keeps wandering, making it hard to concentrate. For this She explained the below verse :
ಚಂಚಲಂ ಹಿ ಮನಃ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಥಿ ಬಲವದ್ದೃಢಂ ।
ತಸ್ಯಾಹಂ ನಿಗ್ರಹಂ ಮನ್ಯೇ ವಾಯೋರಿವ ಸುದುಷ್ಕರಂ ॥
(Bhagavad Gita 6.34)It says that the mind is restless, just like the wind, but with practice and discipline, we can control it.
After learning these 4 lessons, I started applying them in my daily life. Slowly, I have seen a lot of positive changes in myself. I have become more confident, disciplined, focused and less afraid of failure. Now ,The Bhagavad Gita session is not just a chanting class in the school—it has become a guide that helped me to change my way of thinking. Whenever I feel lost, I go back to its teachings, and they always give me motivation and strength.
- Stay Balanced in Success and Failure
