Devotion

Mayi sarvani karmani sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa, nirashir nirmamo bhutva yudhyasva vigata-jvarah

Therefore, surrendering all your works unto Me, with mind intent on the self, free from desire and possessiveness, and cured of mental fever, fight.

Sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah, bhakto 'si me sakha ceti rahasyam hy etad uttamam

That very same ancient yoga is what I am now declaring to you today, for you are my devotee and my friend. This is the supreme secret.

Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham, mama vartmanuvartante manushyah partha sarvashah

In whatever way people surrender unto Me, I reciprocate accordingly. Everyone follows My path, knowingly or unknowingly, O son of Pritha.

Shraddhaval labhate jnanam tat-parah samyatendriyah, jnanam labdhva param shantim acirenadhigacchati

Those who have faith, are devoted, and have mastered their senses quickly attain divine knowledge. Upon attaining such knowledge, they soon achieve supreme peace.

Yo mam pashyati sarvatra sarvam ca mayi pashyati, tasyaham na pranashyami sa ca me na pranashyati

One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me — I am never lost to that person, and that person is never lost to Me. This is the essence of the vision of oneness: the devotee who sees the Divine in all and all in the Divine is forever united with the Lord.

Yoginam api sarvesham mad-gatenantar-atmana, shraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah

Of all yogis, those who with great faith always abide in Me, think of Me within themselves, and render devotional service to Me—they are the most intimately united with Me and are the highest of all.

Shri bhagavan uvaca: Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-ashrayah, asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrinu

The Supreme Lord said: O son of Partha, hear how you shall know Me fully and without doubt, with your mind fixed on Me, taking refuge in Me, and practicing yoga with devotion. This verse opens the chapter by promising complete knowledge of the Divine through devoted practice and surrender.

Tesham jnanee nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir vishishyate, priyo hi jnanino 'tyartham aham sa ca mama priyah

Of all these devotees, the one with knowledge (jnani), who is always absorbed in Me with single-minded devotion, is the best. I am very dear to such a one, and that one is also very dear to Me. The jnani who combines knowledge with unwavering devotion is the highest type of seeker — a beloved of God.

Yesham tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam, te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam dridha-vratah

But those persons of virtuous deeds whose sins have come to an end, and who are freed from the delusion of duality, worship Me with firm resolve. The accumulation of virtuous deeds over many lives purifies the soul, eventually freeing it from delusion and enabling firm, unwavering devotion.

Ananya-chetah satatam yo mam smarati nityashah, tasyaham sulabhah partha nitya-yuktasya yoginah

For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of constant engagement in devotional service.

Ashraddadhanah purusha dharmasyasya parantapa, aprapya mam nivartante mrityu-samsara-vartmani

Those who lack faith in this dharma, O Parantapa, do not attain Me; they return to the path of birth and death in this mortal world. Without inner conviction in the supreme teaching, the soul remains bound to the cycle of transmigration.

Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakritim ashritah, bhajanty ananya-manaso jnatva bhutadim avyayam

O Partha, great souls who take shelter of the divine nature worship Me with undivided consciousness, knowing Me as the imperishable origin of all beings.

Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas cha dridha-vratah, namasyantas cha mam bhaktya nitya-yukta upasate

Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with determination, and bowing down to Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.

Ananya-chintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate, tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshemam vahamy aham

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.

Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrin yanti pitri-vratah, bhutani yanti bhutejya yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam

Those who worship the demigods go to the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship spirits go to spirits; and those who worship Me will come to Me. The destination of a soul mirrors the object of its deepest devotion and worship.

Patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati, tad aham bhakty-upahritam ashnami prayatatmanah

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.

Samo 'ham sarva-bhuteshu na me dveshyo 'sti na priyah, ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te teshu chapy aham

I am equal to all beings; none is hateful or dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I am in them.

Api chet suduracharo bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah

Even if someone commits the most abominable actions, if they worship Me with exclusive devotion, they are to be considered saintly, for they have made the proper resolve.

Mam hi partha vyapashritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah, striyo vaishyas tatha shudras te 'pi yanti param gatim

O Partha, even those who are born of sinful wombs — women, merchants (vaishyas), and labourers (shudras) — by taking refuge in Me, they too attain the supreme destination. Devotion transcends all social categories; the path of surrender to God is open to every soul regardless of birth or status.

Kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta raja-rshayas tatha, anityam asukham lokam imam prapya bhajasva mam

How much more then, righteous brahmanas and devoted royal sages — having obtained this impermanent and joyless world, engage in devotional service unto Me. If even those in lower positions can attain God, those born into righteous circumstances should certainly seize the opportunity for bhakti.

Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate, iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah

I am the source of all creation, and everything proceeds from Me. Understanding this, the wise worship Me with great faith and devotion.

Teshām satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam, dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te

To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the yoga of understanding by which they come to Me.

Vistarenaatmano yogam vibhutim ca janardana, bhuyah kathaya tripyami shrrinvanto naamritam hi me

Tell me again in full detail Your mystic power and divine glories, O Janardana, for I am never satiated listening to the nectar of Your words. For the genuine devotee, hearing about God's glories is nectar — an inexhaustible source of joy that deepens the soul's connection with the Supreme.

Prahladas casmi daityanan kalah kalayatam aham, mrigaanam ca mrigendro 'ham vainateyash ca pakshinam

Among the Daityas (demons) I am Prahlada; among reckoning I am time; among animals I am the lion; and among birds I am Garuda. Prahlada is the supreme example of devotion even among demonic circumstances — the Lord manifests as the most devotional heart even in the most unlikely settings.

Bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham evaṁ-vidho 'rjuna, jñātuṁ draṣhṭuṁ cha tattvena praveṣhṭuṁ cha parantapa

Only through exclusive devotion can I be known as I am, seen directly, and entered into, O Arjuna.

Arjuna uvācha: evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṁ paryupāsate, ye chāpy akṣharam avyaktaṁ teṣhāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ

Arjuna asked: Of those who are ever steadfast and worship You with devotion, and those who worship the imperishable unmanifest — which of them are better versed in yoga?

Tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara-sagarat, bhavami na chirat partha mayy aveshita-chetasam

For those whose minds are set on Me, I am soon the deliverer from the ocean of death and transmigration, O Partha.

Santushṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ, mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Ever content, steadfast in meditation, self-controlled, and of firm resolve, with mind and intellect offered to Me—such devotees are very dear to Me.

Anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ, sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Free from wants, pure, expert, without cares, untroubled, and renouncing all undertakings—such devotees are very dear to Me.

Mayi cha ananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicharini, vivikta-desha-sevitvam aratir jana-samsadi

Unwavering devotion to Me through single-minded yoga, inclination toward solitary places, and aversion to the company of worldly people — these mark the knower of Truth. Pure devotion to God is itself the highest knowledge.

Iti kshetram tatha jnanam jneyam choktam samasatah, mad-bhakta etad vijnaya mad-bhavayopapadyate

Thus the field, knowledge, and the knowable have been briefly described. My devotee, understanding this, attains to My nature. Comprehending the distinction between field and knower leads directly to liberation through devotion.

Mam cha yo 'vyabhicharena bhakti-yogena sevate, sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

Those who serve Me with unwavering devotional yoga transcend the three gunas and become fit for union with Brahman.

Yo mam evam asammudho janati purushottamam, sa sarva-vid bhajati mam sarva-bhavena bharata

Those who, without delusion, know Me as the Supreme Person, know everything and engage in My devotion with their whole being.

sve sve karmany abhiratah samsiddhim labhate narah sva-karma-niratah siddhim yatha vindati tac chrinu

Each person attains perfection by being devoted to their own duty. Hear now how one who is intent on their own duty finds that perfection. Krishna affirms that fulfillment comes through wholehearted engagement with one's own dharmic work.

Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na shochati na kankshati, samah sarveshu bhuteshu mad-bhaktim labhate param

One who is thus transcendentally situated realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. Such a person never laments nor desires anything, is equal to all beings, and attains supreme devotion to Me.

Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaśh chāsmi tattvataḥ, tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśhate tad-anantaram

Only through devotion can one know Me as I am, in truth. Having known Me in essence, one immediately enters into Me.

Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru, mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyo 'si me

Always think of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer obeisance to Me. Doing so, you will certainly come to Me. This is My pledge to you, for you are My dear friend.

idam te natapaskaya nabhaktaya kadacana na casusrusave vacyam na ca mam yo 'bhyasuyati

This teaching should never be spoken to one who is without austerity, without devotion, without the desire to hear, or who speaks ill of Krishna. The Gita's supreme knowledge is to be shared only with those who are genuinely receptive and sincere.

Ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhakteshv abhidhasyati, bhaktim mayi param kritva mam evaisyaty asanshayah

Those who teach this supreme secret to My devotees, performing the highest devotional service to Me, will certainly come to Me without doubt.

Na cha tasmān manuṣhyeṣhu kaśhchit me priya-kṛittamaḥ, bhavitā na cha me tasmād anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi

There is none among humans who does Me service more devoted than they, nor will there be anyone on earth dearer to Me.

Yatra yogeshvarah krishno yatra partho dhanur-dharah, tatra shrir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama

Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.