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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.57
चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्पर: ।
बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य मच्चित्त: सततं भव ॥ ५७ ॥
cetasā sarva-karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
buddhi-yogam upāśritya
mac-cittaḥ satataṁ bhava
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Depend on Kṛṣṇa in all activities, work under His protection, and remain fully conscious of Him.
Prabhupāda explains that a devotee serves only to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, following His teachings and the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.
Follow Kṛṣṇa’s directions in your duties; do not act on a whim and then offer Him the results.
Therefore perform your duties in full dependence on My protection
In all activities just depend on Me
Work always under My protection and be fully conscious of Me
Mood of servant
Act fully under the direction of Supreme Lord
No individual independence
Unaffected by profit and loss – Acts only on behalf of the master
Discharges his duty faithfully
How to exhibit that mood towards Krishna in His absence
Act according to Bhagavad-gita (Krishna’s direction)
Act under guidance of Krishna’s representative
Significance of ‘Mat-parah’ — One has no goal save and except acting to satisfy Krishna
Misuse of “Concept of devotional service” — Doing something whimsical and offering the results to Krishna
Act only according to order to Krishna which comes through disciplic succession
Prime duty of life – Spiritual master’s order
Texts 18.56 & 18.57
What is the practical application of Krishna’s instructions for Arjuna?
Texts 18.57 & 18.58
What will be the result of following Krishna’s instructions? And of not following?
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 18.57 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.