5 shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita that help control anger

Anger, an emotion that has forever led to conflict and ruin, can get uncontrollable at times. Anger can make people mad, can harm families, harm countries, lead to destruction, and in the end, there is never a winner! And just like the endless problems that the Bhagavad Gita has solutions to, there are solutions and revelations about anger as well.
Here we list 5 shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita that can help keep a check on anger.

Chapter 2, Shloka 56 of the Bhagavad Gita translates to - ‘A person who is not affected by distress, is free from desires for pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.’
In this shloka, Lord Krishna tells humans about the importance of maintaining a steady and balanced mind regardless of how much anger must be boiling within. He advises people to remain undisturbed by both sorrow and joy and by not getting swayed by happiness or anger, one can learn how to be at peace with oneself and the world.

Chapter 5, Shloka 26 of the Bhagavad Gita says ‘Those who are free from lust and anger, and have realized the Self, for them, there is spiritual bliss both here and hereafter.’
In this shloka, Shri Krishna explains that being free from lust and anger is important to attain bliss in life. People who can control their desires and anger can easily achieve a state of inner peace and are in sync with their true self.

​Chapter 16, Shloka 2 of the Bhagavad Gita translates to ‘Non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, tranquility, absence of fault-finding, compassion towards all beings, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness are the qualities of divine-natured humans.’
In this shloka, Krishna gives out certain virtues and qualities that are important for good humans to have and indicate a certain divine nature. And among them all, the absence of anger is one of the most important qualities. Practicing non-violence, truthfulness, and compassion reduces the triggers that cause anger and when we accept these qualities in us, we make a more serene environment around us.

Chapter 16, Shloka 21 says ‘There are three gates leading to the hell of self-destruction: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one should give up on these three.’
By highlighting how anger can lead to self-destruction, this shloka shows people the ill-effects of bad temper. Anger, greed, and lust, don't just stop a person’s spiritual growth but also result in a bad environment in their own heart and mind. And so, to lead a fulfilling and peaceful life, it is important to abandon these traits.

Chapter 2, Shloka 63 translates to ‘From anger comes delusion and from delusion there is confusion of memory, and then there is loss of reason. From that, there is complete ruin.’
In this shloka, Shri Krishna explains the effects of anger. By explaining that anger leads to delusion, and then delusion transforms to confusion, which in turn results in loss of reason, it is like a hint into how humans lead themselves to ruin. Understanding this chain of consequences helps control anger.