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Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.56
सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रय: ।
मत्प्रसादादवाप्नोति शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ॥ ५६ ॥
sarva-karmāṇy api sadā
kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ
mat-prasādād avāpnoti
śāśvataṁ padam avyayam
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee reaches His eternal abode by His grace and protection.
Prabhupāda explains that a pure devotee always acts under the Lord’s or spiritual master’s direction and is guaranteed entrance into Kṛṣṇaloka despite difficulties.
Seek to act under the direction of the Lord or the spiritual master to become free from material contamination.
“I personally protect My devotee from all reactions and lead him directly to My Supreme abode”
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee is always under My protection and
He reaches the eternal abode by My grace
30 – 9.31, 12.7
Significance of ‘Mad-vyapasrayah’ — Means under the protection of the Lord
How protection comes – A pure devotee acts under the direction of Supreme Lord or His representative
Nature or quality of service
No time limitation for a pure devotee
Always, 24 hours engaged in the service of the Lord
Nature of the abode – Unchangeable eternal, imperishable and full of knowledge
Texts 18.56 & 18.57
What is the practical application of Krishna’s instructions for Arjuna?
One on the platform of devotion should work under the order of Lord, fully depending on Him and being fully conscious of Him
One will thus be free from the control of the modes of material nature
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 18.56 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?
Offer one act today with devotion.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.