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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.27
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् ।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥ २७ ॥
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Kṛṣṇa asks us to offer Him whatever we do, eat, give away, or perform as austerity.
Prabhupāda explains that we should shape our lives so we never forget Kṛṣṇa and work for Him.
In daily life, eat food first offered to Kṛṣṇa and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra to remember Him.
Recommends Niskama-karma-yoga — You can even offer fruits of what you are already doing. One can do any of the following as an offering to Krishna
Whatever you do
Whatever you eat
Whatever you offer or give away
Whatever austerities you perform
Duties of everyone — To mold one’s life in such a way as not to forget Krishna in any circumstance
Work needed even for bodily maintenance — Therefore better to work for Krishna e.g.
Eat – Only prasadam
Religious duties – Do it only for Krishna (Archana)
Charity – Utilise for furthering Krishna consciousness
Austerity – Greatest meditator and greatest yogi is one who meditates on Krishna 24 hours by chanting on his beads (Ref Bg. 6.47)
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
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.
Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 9.27 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.