Bhagavad Gita 18.56
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 56 of 78
सर्वकर्माण्य् अपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः । मत्प्रसादात् अवाप्नोति शाश्वतं पदम् अव्ययम् ॥
sarva-karmāṇy api sadā kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ | mat-prasādāt avāpnoti śāśvataṃ padam avyayam ||
Even doing all actions always, with refuge in Me — by My grace one attains the eternal imperishable abode.
Word by word (3)
- sarva-karmāṇy api sadā kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ
- — even (api) all actions (sarva-karmāṇi), always/continuously (sadā), while performing/doing (kurvāṇo = doing, present participle), taking refuge in/depending on Me (mad-vyapāśrayaḥ = mad + vi + apa + āśraya = taking-full-refuge-in-Me) — the most liberating teaching: ALL actions, always, are compatible with liberation IF done with refuge in the Divine
- mat-prasādāt avāpnoti śāśvataṃ padam avyayam
- — by My grace (mat-prasādāt = mat + prasāda + āt = by-My-grace/favor), one attains/fully-obtains (avāpnoti = ava + āp = completely-reaches) the eternal/everlasting (śāśvatam = perpetual/eternal) immutable/undecaying abode/station (padam avyayam = avyaya = without-decay = imperishable state) — the destination: the eternal imperishable abode through Divine grace
- mat-prasādāt
- — by/through My grace (prasāda = clearness/grace/favor; the same prasāda of V37's ātmabuddhi-prasādajam and Ch.2's sarva-duḥkhānāṃ hānir asyopajāyate prasāde); mat-prasāda (Divine grace) is not earned through works but received through surrender; V56 establishes that all karma done with mad-vyapāśraya (refuge in Me) = eligible for grace = accessible to śāśvata padam avyayam
Even performing all actions always, taking refuge in Me — by My grace one attains the eternal, imperishable state.
A modern analogy
This is one of the most liberating verses in the Gita: you do not have to stop doing. Even doing EVERYTHING — sarva-karmāṇi api, all actions — is compatible with liberation, IF done with refuge in the Divine (mad-vyapāśrayaḥ). The farmer, the warrior, the merchant, the scholar — all can attain the eternal abode through mat-prasāda (Divine grace), provided their inner orientation is one of surrender.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Doing continually all actions whatsoever, taking refuge in Me — by My Grace he reaches the eternal undecaying Abode. [1]
Even doing all actions always, taking refuge in Me — by My grace he attains to the eternal, immutable State. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Even performing all actions at all times having refuge in Me, he obtains, through my favor, the seat that is eternal and imperishable. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Sāttvic tyāga: niyata karma done ONLY because 'this must be done,' having abandoned attachment and fruit.
One with no ego-doer-sense, whose buddhi is untainted — even while killing all these beings, kills not, is not bound.
This knowledge, more secret than all secrets, has been declared to you — reflect on it fully and act as you wish.
Abandon all dharmas, take refuge in Me alone — I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve.
Even yajña-dāna-tapas must be performed having abandoned attachment and fruits — My settled, highest opinion.
Learn these five causes of all action from Me, O Mighty-armed — as declared in the Sāṃkhya final teaching.
Verse 56 of 78 · back to Chapter 18