Question

Where exactly is the Bhagavad Geeta quote that the “ultimate aim of life is to attain moksha” found?

Answer

There's no exact-verbatim verse in the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā that says "the Ultimate aim of Life is to attain Mokṣa".

However, indirectly, Mokṣa as "the Ultimate Aim" is implied throughout the Gītā.

Here, I have tried to compile all the verses in my knowledge that talks about Mokṣa or Nirvāṇa, either directly or indirectly:

1. BG. 2.72

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिःपार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति । स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति ॥ ७२ ॥

2.72. This is the Brahmic seat (eternal state), O son of Pritha. Attaining to this, none is deluded. Being established therein, even at the end of life, one attains to oneness with Brahman.


2. BG. 4.16

BG. 4.16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः । तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽश‍ुभात् ॥ १६ ॥

4.16 What is action? What is inaction? As to this, even the wise are confused. Therefore I shall teach thee such action (the nature of action and inaction) by knowing which thou shalt be liberated from the evil (of Samsara, the wheel of birth and death).


3. BG. 5.24-25-26

BG. 5.24
योऽन्त:सुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तर्ज्योतिरेव य: । स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति ॥ २४ ॥

5.24. He who is happy within, who rejoices within, and who is illuminated within, that Yogi attains absolute freedom or Moksha, himself becoming Brahman.

BG. 5.25
लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषय: क्षीणकल्मषा: । छिन्नद्वैधा यतात्मान: सर्वभूतहिते रता: ॥ २५ ॥

5.25. The sages (Rishis) obtain absolute freedom or Moksha they whose sins have been destroyed, whose dualities (perception of dualities or experience of the pairs of opposites) are torn asunder, who are self-controlled, and intent on the welfare of all beings.

BG. 5.26
कामक्रोधविमुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम् । अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ॥ २६ ॥

5.26. To the monks who have control over their internal organ, who are free from desire and anger, who have known the Self, there is absorption in Brahman either way.


4. BG. 5.28

यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः। विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ॥ २८ ॥

5.28. With the senses, the mind, and the intellect (ever) controlled, having liberation as his supreme goal, free from desire, fear and anger the sage is verily liberated forever.


5. BG. 6.14-15

BG. 6.14
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थित: । मन: संयम्य मच्च‍ित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्पर: ॥ १४ ॥

6.14. Being calm-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy; controlling mind fully; let the master of Yoga remain, fixing his mind in Me and having Me [alone] as his supreme goal.

BG. 6.15
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानस: । शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥ १५ ॥

6.15 Thus always keeping the mind balanced, the Yogi, with the mind controlled, attains to the peace abiding in Me, which culminates in liberation.


6. BG. 9.1 & 9.28

BG. 9.1
इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे । ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽश‍ुभात् ॥ १ ॥

9.1 The Blessed Lord said I shall now declare to thee who does not cavil, the greatest secret, the knowledge combined with experience (Self-realisation). Having known this thou shalt be free evil.

BG. 9.28
श‍ुभाश‍ुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनै: । सन्न्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि ॥ २८ ॥

9.28 Thus shalt thou be freed from the bonds of actions yielding good and evil fruits; with the mind steadfast in the Yoga of renunciation, and liberated, thou shalt come unto Me.


7. BG. 17.25

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतप:क्रिया: । दानक्रियाश्च विविधा: क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्‌‍क्षिभि: ॥ २५ ॥

17.25 Uttering Tat, without aiming at the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice and austerity and the various acts of gift performed by the seekers of liberation.


8. BG. 18.30 & 18.66

BG. 18.30
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये । बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धि: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ ३० ॥

18.30 The intellect which knows the path of work and renunciation, what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation that intellect is Sattvic (pure), O Arjun

BG. 18.66
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज । अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा श‍ुच: ॥ ६६ ॥

18.66 Abandoning all duties, take refuge in Me alone: I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not.

All the English Translations by Swami Sivananda (Divine Life Society).


Conclusion:

  • So, we can see that although the exact verbatim is not found in the Gītā, however, the implication is clear on Mokṣa as the Supreme Goal of Human life.

  • Specifically, the verses BG. 5.28 & 6.14-15 underlines such an idea quite strongly.

  • The idea of "Liberation" may also be found in BG. 2.51, BG 5.2, BG 5.17, BG. 7.14, BG 7.29, BG 16.5, etc.

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