Bhagavad Gita 18.65
Spoken by Krishna ★ Essential verse · Verse 65 of 78
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु । माम् एवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियो ऽसि मे ॥
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṃ namaskuru | mām evaiṣyasi satyaṃ te pratijāne priyo 'si me ||
Mind-in-Me, devotee, worshiper, bow to Me — you will come to Me; truly I promise, you are dear to Me.
Word by word (3)
- man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṃ namaskuru
- — be one whose mind is in Me (man-manā = mat + manā = My-minded), be My devotee (mad-bhakto = mad + bhakta = My-devotee), be My worshiper (mad-yājī = mad + yājī = My-sacrificer/worshiper, from yaj = to sacrifice/worship), bow down to Me (mām namaskuru = to-Me bow-down) — four-fold bhakti practice: mind-in-Me, devotion, worship-sacrifice, prostration
- mām evaiṣyasi satyaṃ te pratijāne priyo 'si me
- — you will come to Me (mām eva eṣyasi = to Me alone you will come, future), truly (satyam) I promise (pratijāne = I pledge, from prati + jñā = to formally-promise) to you (te) — because you are dear to Me (priyaḥ asi me = dear you-are to-Me) — the solemn divine promise: these four practices = certain arrival at the Divine, guaranteed by love
- satyaṃ pratijāne priyo 'si me
- — truly I promise because you are dear to Me; satyam (truth/truly) + pratijāne (I promise) + priyo 'si me (you are dear) — the three elements of the promise: its truth-content, the divine commitment to it, and the love that grounds the commitment. This is the most personal promise in the Gita — not 'one who does X will attain Y' (third-person) but 'you (Arjuna/beloved student) will come to Me (first-person), truly, I promise, because you are dear to Me'
Be one whose mind is in Me, be My devotee, be My worshiper, bow down to Me. You will come to Me. Truly I promise you — for you are dear to Me.
A modern analogy
This verse gives the four-fold bhakti practice in its simplest, most direct form: mind-in-Me (man-manā), devotion (mad-bhakta), worship/sacrifice (mad-yājī), prostration (namaskuru). And the result: mām eva eṣyasi — you WILL come to Me. The guarantee is grounded in love: priyo 'si me (you are dear to Me). This is the Gita's most intimate verse before the final teaching to abandon all dharmas and take refuge in Me alone.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Fix thy thought on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, do homage to Me. Thou shalt reach Myself. The truth do I declare to thee; thou art dear to Me. [1]
Occupy thy mind with Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. Thou shalt reach Myself; truly do I promise unto thee, (for) thou art dear to Me. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Set thy heart on Me, become My devotee, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. Then shalt thou come to Me. I declare to thee truly, for thou art dear to Me. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Even if the most sinful worships Me with undivided devotion — he must be deemed righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
Destroyed is my delusion, memory restored by Your grace — I stand firm, free of doubt, and will do Your word.
Like a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise one withdraws senses from objects. Wisdom stands firm.
Control all senses, sit in yoga focused on the Supreme — that one's wisdom stands unshakable.
Bound by your svabhāva-born karma, what from delusion you don't wish to do — you will do even helplessly.
This teaching is never to be given to the non-ascetic, non-devotee, non-service-minded, or one who criticizes Me.
Verse 65 of 78 · back to Chapter 18