- Verse 1 of 6Bhagavad Gita 6.5 →
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
Let a person lift himself by his own self; let him not degrade himself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is its enemy.
मनुष्य अपने द्वारा अपना उद्धार करे और अपने को गिरने न दे, क्योंकि मनुष्य स्वयं ही अपना मित्र है और स्वयं ही अपना शत्रु है।
- Verse 2 of 6Bhagavad Gita 2.40 →
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते।
nehābhikrama-nāśho ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate svalpam apyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt
In this, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm produced, nor any transgression. Even a little of this knowledge protects one from great fear.
मनुष्यलोकमें इस समबुद्धिरूप धर्मके आरम्भका नाश नहीं होता, इसके अनुष्ठानका उलटा फल भी नहीं होता और इसका थोड़ासा भी अनुष्ठान (जन्म-मरणरूप) महान् भयसे रक्षा कर लेता है।
- Verse 3 of 6Bhagavad Gita 6.43 →
तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम्।
tatra taṁ buddhi-sanyogaṁ labhate paurva-dehikam yatate cha tato bhūyaḥ sansiddhau kuru-nandana
Then he comes into contact with the knowledge acquired in his former body and strives even more for perfection, O Arjuna.
हे कुरुनन्दन ! वहाँपर उसको पूर्वजन्मकृत साधन-सम्पत्ति अनायास ही प्राप्त हो जाती है। फिर उससे वह साधनकी सिद्धिके विषयमें पुनः विशेषतासे यत्न करता है।
- Verse 4 of 6Bhagavad Gita 4.38 →
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
na hi jñānena sadṛiśhaṁ pavitramiha vidyate tatsvayaṁ yogasansiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati
Verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. He who is perfected in Yoga finds it within the Self in due time.
इस मनुष्यलोकमें ज्ञानके समान पवित्र करनेवाला निःसन्देह दूसरा कोई साधन नहीं है। जिसका योग भली-भाँति सिद्ध हो गया है, वह (कर्मयोगी) उस तत्त्वज्ञानको अवश्य ही स्वयं अपने-आपमें पा लेता है।
- Verse 5 of 6Bhagavad Gita 18.45 →
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः।स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ sansiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tach chhṛiṇu
Each person devoted to their own duty attains perfection. How they attain perfection while being engaged in their own duty, hear now.
अपने-अपने कर्ममें तत्परतापूर्वक लगा हुआ मनुष्य सम्यक् सिद्धि-(परमात्मा-)को प्राप्त कर लेता है। अपने कर्ममें लगा हुआ मनुष्य जिस प्रकार सिद्धिको प्राप्त होता है? उस प्रकारको तू मेरेसे सुन।
- Verse 6 of 6Bhagavad Gita 6.45 →
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः।
prayatnād yatamānas tu yogī sanśhuddha-kilbiṣhaḥ aneka-janma-sansiddhas tato yāti parāṁ gatim
But the Yogi who strives assiduously, purified of sins and perfected gradually over many births, reaches the highest goal.
परन्तु जो योगी प्रयत्नपूर्वक यत्न करता है और जिसके पाप नष्ट हो गये हैं तथा जो अनेक जन्मोंसे सिद्ध हुआ है, वह योगी फिर परमगतिको प्राप्त हो जाता है।
✦ Frequently Asked Questions ✦
What does the Bhagavad Gita say about growth, self-improvement and rising higher?
How do you keep growing? The Gita declares: lift yourself by your own Self, for you are your own best friend or worst enemy. These shlokas inspire a true growth mindset — taking responsibility, learning continuously, and steadily elevating yourself. Key shlokas: 6.5, 2.40, 6.43, 4.38, 18.45, 6.45.
Which Bhagavad Gita verses are about growth, self-improvement and rising higher?
The Bhagavad Gita addresses growth, self-improvement and rising higher in shlokas 6.5, 2.40, 6.43, 4.38, 18.45, 6.45. Read each with Sanskrit, transliteration, word-by-word meaning and English & Hindi translation on AskGita.