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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Bhakti & surrenderChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.293.31

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.30

Offer every action to Krishna

Īśvara · God

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि सन्न्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा ।

निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ॥ ३० ॥

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi

sannyasyādhyātma-cetasā

nirāśīr nirmamo bhūtvā

yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ

Translation

Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Offer Your Work to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna to surrender all work to Him with full knowledge of Him, seeking no profit, claiming no ownership, and fighting without laziness.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that our eternal position is to depend on and obey Kṛṣṇa. Everything belongs to the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    Carry out your duties for Kṛṣṇa without claiming anything as yours or expecting personal rewards. Such work leads toward liberation.

Key points from the purport

Discusses the stage of bhakti-yoga

Recommends to work exclusively for Krishna and teach others to do the same

Surrendering all your works “unto Me”

With full knowledge of Me

Without desires for profit

With no claims of proprietorship

Free from lethargy, FIGHT!

Connected verses · 1

Texts 3.29 & 3.30

While the past several verses have stressed niskama-karma-yoga

(detached work), the next verse describes bhakti.

How it feels

Purposeful surrender

Further reading

Niskama-Karma To Set Correct Example

Dutifully acting without attachment sets the correct example for others, who are less advanced

Chapter 3, section IV: Niskama-Karma To Set Correct Example
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mayiunto Me
  2. sarvāṇiall sorts of
  3. karmāṇiactivities
  4. sannyasyagiving up completely
  5. adhyātmawith full knowledge of the self
  6. cetasāby consciousness
  7. nirāśīḥwithout desire for profit
  8. nirmamaḥwithout ownership
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

  • Offered action

    Offer all works to Krishna with spiritual consciousness.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What would change if today’s work were treated as service instead of possession?

Practice

Before a major task, pause and inwardly dedicate it to Krishna.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 3 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.19Exemplary action and leadership by exampleBG 5.10Action without contamination
Live this todayOffer Your Duties to KṛṣṇaOne practice from this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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