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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 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 ›
Krishna’s natureChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
5.286.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.29

Knowing Krishna as the well-wishing friend

Īśvara · God

भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् ।

सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति ॥ २९ ॥

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ

sarva-loka-maheśvaram

suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

Translation

A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.

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

The Formula for Peace

  1. 1

    Peace comes from fully knowing Kṛṣṇa as the receiver of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and everyone's well-wisher.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa owns everything and we are His eternal servants. Perfect peace comes only through complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service.

  3. 3

    Offer your work to Kṛṣṇa, remembering that He is the master and you are His servant.

Key points from the purport

Tells Arjuna how he can remain peaceful on, of all places, a battlefield only by understanding Krishna’s supremacy and act accordingly

GREATEST PEACE FORMULA Lord Krishna is:

1

Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam — Beneficiary of all sacrifices and penances

Offer everything in the Transcendental Service of the Lord

2

Sarva-loka-mahesvaram — Supreme Proprietor of all planets and demigods

No one is greater than Him; Greater than greatest demigods

Ref. Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.7: Krishna is the Supreme Isvara

The living entity is under illusion in trying to lord over material nature – but is dominated by the material energy

3

Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam — Benefactor and well wisher of all living entities

a

Fifth Chapter is a practical application of Krishna consciousness, generally known as Karma-yoga. It thoroughly explains how karma-yoga can give liberation

b

Karma-yoga as “Action in full knowledge”

To work in Krishna consciousness means to work in full knowledge of Lord as the predominator

Such work is non-different from transcendental knowledge

Direct Krishna consciousness is bhakti-yoga and jnana-yoga is a path leading to bhakti-yoga

c

Position of living entity as eternal servant

Pure soul is the eternal servant of God as fragmental part and parcel

Cause of his suffering – contact with maya (illusion due to desire to Lord it over)

d

Krishna consciousness — An arousing of a spiritual experience in the material world

One has to execute work in terms of material necessities as long as one is in contact with matter

However Krishna consciousness brings one into spiritual life while one is in the jurisdiction of matter

e

Lord is not partial to anyone but reciprocates according to your approach

The more one is advanced, the more one is free from the clutches of maya

Everything depends on one’s practical performance of duties in Krishna consciousness

These duties help one control the senses and conquer the influence of desire and anger

To stand fast in Krishna consciousness and controlling the above mentioned passions, one remains in transcendental stage or Brahma-nirvana

f

Astanga-yoga is automatically practiced in Krishna consciousness because the ultimate purpose is served

Astanga-yoga is a process of gradual elevation by eight steps

These eight steps only preface perfection by devotional service

g

The highest perfection of life — Only devotional service can award peace to the human being

End of chapter 5

Bhagavad Gita Notes 1 Chapter 5 Appendix CHAPTER 5 Appendix Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”

How it feels

Reassurance and peace

2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhoktāramthe beneficiary
  2. yajñaof sacrifices
  3. tapasāmand penances and austerities
  4. sarva-lokaof all planets and the demigods thereof
  5. mahā-īśvaramthe Supreme Lord
  6. su-hṛdamthe benefactor
  7. sarvaof all
  8. bhūtānāmthe living entities
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek peace primarily through control, or through understanding Krishna’s position?

Practice

Reflect on Krishna’s benevolence at the close of the day.

5

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 5 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todayPeace in Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessOne 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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