Bhagavad Gita 18.57
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 57 of 78
चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्परः । बुद्धियोगम् उपाश्रित्य मच्चितस् सदा भव ॥
cetasā sarva-karmāṇi mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ | buddhi-yogam upāśritya mac-citas sadā bhava ||
Mentally offering all actions to Me, with Me as highest — resorting to buddhi-yoga, always be mind-in-Me.
Word by word (3)
- cetasā sarva-karmāṇi mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
- — mentally/with the mind/consciousness (cetasā = with-mind/consciousness) all actions (sarva-karmāṇi) having renounced/dedicated (sannyasya = having-surrendered, from san + nyāsa = complete-placing; sannyāsa used here as the action of offering-unto-Me) to Me (mayi), with Me as the highest/supreme (mat-paraḥ = mat + para = Me-as-highest)
- buddhi-yogam upāśritya mac-citas sadā bhava
- — having resorted to buddhi-yoga (the yoga of discriminating intelligence; buddhi-yoga = yoga that operates through the purified buddhi), always (sadā) be one whose mind is in Me (mac-citas = mac + citas = My-minded, mind-fixed-in-Me), be (bhava) — the practice instruction: buddhi-yoga + mac-citta = constant mental abidance in Me
- cetasā sannyasya...mac-citas sadā bhava
- — mentally renounce → keep mind constantly in Me; the two-movement practice: (1) cetasā sannyasya sarva-karmāṇi mayi = offer all actions mentally to Me (the sannyāsa that is internal, not external); (2) mac-citas sadā bhava = be perpetually mind-in-Me; this is the Gita's constant bhakti-yoga practice instruction for the person still engaged in worldly action (sarva-karmāṇi)
Mentally renouncing all actions to Me, with Me as the highest goal, resorting to buddhi-yoga — always be one whose mind is in Me.
A modern analogy
This verse gives the practice method for the previous verse's 'refuge in Me.' The instruction: (1) mentally offer all actions to Krishna as you do them (cetasā sannyasya), (2) keep the Divine as the highest value/orientation (mat-paraḥ), (3) use the buddhi (discriminating intelligence) as the vehicle for this orientation (buddhi-yoga), and (4) maintain this mind-in-Me (mac-citas) always. This is not complicated technique but a continuous inner orientation.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Mentally resigning all deeds to Me, regarding Me as the Supreme, resorting to mental concentration, do thou ever fix thy heart in Me. [1]
Resigning mentally all deeds to Me, having Me as the highest goal, resorting to Buddhi-Yoga, do thou ever fix thy mind on Me. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Dedicating in thy heart all actions to Me, being devoted to Me, resorting to mental abstraction, fix thy thoughts constantly on Me. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Destroyed is my delusion, memory restored by Your grace — I stand firm, free of doubt, and will do Your word.
Bound by your svabhāva-born karma, what from delusion you don't wish to do — you will do even helplessly.
Abandon all desires born of mental planning — without remainder — and restrain the senses completely, by the mind alone.
Instrument, offering, fire, act, destination — all Brahman. One absorbed in Brahman-action reaches Brahman alone.
Therefore remember Me at all times and fight — mind and intellect fixed on Me, you will come to Me without doubt.
Whatever you do, eat, offer, give, or practise as austerity — do it all as mad-arpaṇam, an offering to Me.
Verse 57 of 78 · back to Chapter 18