Compassion in the Bhagavad Gita — 2 verses across Chapter 1, including 1.12, 2.2. Sanskrit, Hindi, English. One reel per verse.
v1.12· Bhishma
The strongest man on the field made his first move — not for war, but to calm a frightened boy.
Bhishma, the eldest of the Kuru clan, raised his conch and blew. The sound rolled across the field — not a war cry. A grandfather's voice saying: I'm still here.
“Real strength shows up as steadiness for someone else.”
Krishna said: O Arjun, where has this kashmala come upon you at this critical hour? It is unworthy of a noble person, bars the path to heaven, and brings disgrace.
“Sometimes the most compassionate thing you can say to someone drowning is: stand up. The water is shallow.”
The Bhagavad Gita addresses compassion across 2 verses in Chapter 1. Bhishma, the eldest of the Kuru clan, raised his conch and blew. The sound rolled across the field — not a war cry. A grandfather's voice saying: I'm still here. As Krishna puts it: "Real strength shows up as steadiness for someone else."
Which verses of the Gita are about compassion?
Verse 1.12, Verse 2.2 in Chapter 1 (Arjun Vishad Yoga) all engage with compassion. Each is presented in Sanskrit, Hindi, and English at thegitauniverse.com.
Who speaks about compassion in the Bhagavad Gita?
2 different speakers in Chapter 1 invoke compassion: Bhishma, Krishna. The verses span the opening dialogue between Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhan, Bhishma, Arjun, and Krishna.