“सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च।”
(Bhagavad Gita 15.15)
I dwell in the heart of all beings. From Me arise memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness.

This shloka opens the door to self-reflection. If knowledge is purifying, then why do people, even those who pray or meditate, continue to harm others? Why do we find anger, jealousy, cruelty, or deceit in hearts where God is said to reside? The answer lies in understanding how human nature, divine consciousness, and free will intersect — a theme the Bhagavad Gita explores deeply.

The Gita reminds us that God's presence is subtle and still. For it to influence our actions, we must actively recognize and align with it. Let’s explore six key Gita-based truths that explain why we stray from compassion, even when the divine lives within us.

1. Divinity is present, but not always realized

“ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति।”
(Bhagavad Gita 18.61)
The Lord dwells in the heart of all beings, O Arjuna.

The Gita states clearly that God is present in every being — not just the virtuous. But presence does not equal control. God resides as a silent witness, not as a controller of individual choices. When we forget or ignore this inner presence, we act from the ego or impulse, not the soul. Most people live unaware of this sacred seat within. The Gita urges awareness, not blind comfort in the idea of God.

2. Our actions are shaped by the gunas, not the soul
“प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।”
(Bhagavad Gita 3.27)
All actions are performed by the modes (gunas) of nature.

The soul is divine and unchanging, but our behavior is governed by the gunas — sattva (purity), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance). When tamas dominates, actions are lazy or destructive. Under rajas, they become aggressive or restless. Only sattva leads to clarity and peace. So, even with the soul inside, if the mind is clouded by tamas or rajas, we may act in ways that hurt others. Spiritual practice aims to elevate our dominant guna, not deny their influence.

3. The ego distorts the divine connection

Ego is our own Enemy

“अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते।”
(Bhagavad Gita 3.27)
The deluded by ego thinks, “I am the doer.”

The ego — ahamkara — creates the illusion of separation. It convinces us that we are independent doers, not part of the divine flow. This illusion causes fear, envy, and the urge to dominate. When ego takes charge, our sense of unity dissolves. We stop seeing others as souls and begin seeing them as competitors, threats, or tools. The Gita teaches that surrendering ego is the path to harmony with God’s presence, without which divinity remains locked within.

4. Desire and anger blur judgment and empathy
“धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निः यथादर्शो मलेन च।”
(Bhagavad Gita 3.38)
As smoke covers fire and dust covers a mirror, so does desire cover wisdom.

Desire is natural, but unregulated desire distorts perception. When desires are frustrated, they lead to anger. This anger drives harmful speech and behavior, even toward loved ones. The Gita warns that desire is the root of suffering and conflict. Even spiritual people can be misled by subtle desires — for approval, control, or superiority — that result in unkindness. Until desire is mastered, the divine within remains clouded.

5. Ignorance thrives through misuse of free will

Focus on your True Self

“उद्धरेदात्मनाऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।”
(Bhagavad Gita 6.5)
Let one uplift oneself by the self; let not the self degrade itself.

The divine gives us free will — a gift that can elevate or degrade. The Gita doesn’t promise that divine presence will prevent harm. It teaches personal responsibility. If we choose ignorance, indulge harmful habits, or ignore inner reflection, we disconnect from the Self. God doesn't interfere unless invited. Hurting others, despite the divine within, is often a result of spiritual laziness — the refusal to do the inner work.

6. Self-realization is a long, evolving journey

It's a long Journey

“बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते।”
(Bhagavad Gita 7.19)
After many lifetimes, the wise finally surrender to Me.

Realization takes time — often lifetimes. Many carry the divine spark without knowing how to express it. Behavior doesn’t instantly reflect spiritual depth. The Gita encourages compassion in understanding this. Some people are just beginning their spiritual journey; others are halfway through. The fact that someone hurts others doesn't mean they’re godless — it means their awareness is still evolving. And even the wise stumble. The goal is to keep aligning, not achieve perfection overnight.

The presence of God is the beginning, not the end
“न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः।”
It is not possible for the embodied soul to renounce all action entirely.

The presence of God in us is a seed. But unless watered by awareness, discipline, and love, it doesn’t bloom into compassionate action. The Gita calls us not just to believe in God, but to behave like He exists — within us and within others.

When we ask, “Why do we hurt others if God is within us?” — the Gita answers by explaining that presence is passive, but realization requires action. While God resides within us, it is our awareness and conscious choices that activate His presence. Until we clear the noise of ego and desires, the divine remains dormant. Spiritual growth involves recognizing this inner presence and using it as a guide in every decision.

Through consistent effort and mindfulness, the divine energy within us becomes more than just a concept — it becomes a force that leads us towards compassion. When we truly realize this connection, hurting others no longer feels possible, as we understand we are all part of the same divine essence.