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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.26
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: ॥ २६ ॥
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Kṛṣṇa accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with love and devotion.
Prabhupāda explains that devotion is the only way to approach Kṛṣṇa; wealth or learning cannot replace it.
Offer Kṛṣṇa something He requests, such as fruit or water, with a sincere desire to please Him.
Bhakti is a very simple process
Sign of an intelligent person – Engages in Krishna’s loving service to achieve permanent bliss in abode for eternal happiness
Krishna accepts anything offered in love – a leaf, flower, fruit or water
Bhakti is easy and universal
Only qualification required is – To be a pure devotee
No other qualification required – Can be attempted by poorest of the poor, no matter where one is or what one is
Compared to other processes — Simplest process and highest perfectional stage offered
Krishna wants only loving service and nothing more, irrespective of quantity or type of object
Even a little flower or leaf, fruit or flower from a pure devotee will do
But no offering is accepted, however big may be, from a non-devotee – Because the Lord is self sufficient and not in need of anything
Importance of word Bhakti –“Bhakti” is mentioned twice in this verse – to declare emphatically that Bhakti is the only means to approach Krishna
‘No other condition’– being a brahmana / rich man / scholarship / philosopher
None of these conditions can induce the Lord to accept any offering
Bhakti is never causal
It is an eternal process
It is a direct action in service to the Absolute Whole
Link to the previous verse — Krishna after establishing Himself as the only enjoyer, primeval Lord and real object of all sacrificial offerings, now He tells, what type of sacrifice He desires to be offered
Prohibited Items : If you love Krishna — Offer Krishna whatever He wants / Avoid offering that which is undesirable and unasked for
Find out the Lord’s desire, if you want to engage in devotional service and want to get purified and to reach life’s goal
Practical application – No meat, fish or eggs, only patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam (leaf, flower, fruit or water)
Why offer — To enjoy without offering is sinful (Ref. Bg. 3.13)
Attitudes in offering — Most important element in preparation, serving, and offering is Love
FOCUS OF LEARNING — PURPORT 9.26 continued…
Refutes impersonalists philosophers who cannot comprehend this verse because they maintain that “the Absolute Truth is without senses”
Our understanding: Krishna has senses and His senses are interchangeable
Lacking senses would mean Krishna is not full in all opulences
3 examples of ‘omnipotency’ – His senses are interchangeable and can perform the function of each other
Lord impregnates by His glance
Krishna eats by hearing the devotee’s words of Love
Also speaks by breathing and gives Vedas (Ref. Bg. 3.15 purport)
Who can understand: Only the devotee who accepts Krishna as described in the Bhagavad- gita, without interpretation can understand that the Supreme Absolute Truth can eat food and enjoy it.
Texts 9.26 & 9.27
Texts 9.14, 9.22 and 9.26 describe advanced stages of devotion. In the next verse, according to Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Krishna describes a step below this: “Niskama-karma-yoga” – For those who are not yet able to practice pure devotional service
Love and accessibility
Pure devotional service – If one worships Krishna with devotion or even offers Him the fruit of his work, one becomes free from reactions and comes to Him. Worship is simple and result is super excellent (9.26 – 9.28)
Krishna shows favouritism to His devotee. He considers a devotee saintly, even if he’s committed a horrible act, and He quickly purifies the devotee (9.29 – 9.31)
Devotional Service purifies all. By thinking of Krishna, offering Him obeisances and being absorbed in Him, one goes back to Godhead, regardless of his position (9.32 – 9.34)
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Devotional service
Krishna accepts a simple offering made with love.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Do I believe devotion depends on impressive outward resources?
Offer something simple, suitable and sincere to Krishna today.
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.