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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 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 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.28

Loving offerings, service and remembrance

Karma · Action

श‍ुभाश‍ुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनै: ।

सन्न्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि ॥ २८ ॥

śubhāśubha-phalair evaṁ

mokṣyase karma-bandhanaiḥ

sannyāsa-yoga-yuktātmā

vimukto mām upaiṣyasi

Translation

In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.

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

Work as Service to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    With your mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa, you become free from work’s bondage and its good and bad results, and return to Him.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that true renunciation means acting and giving the results to Kṛṣṇa. Liberation means joining the Lord in His abode, not merging into His light.

  3. 3

    Perform your work as service to Kṛṣṇa, offering Him the results and thinking about how to serve Him.

Key points from the purport

Result of acting with Mind fixed on ‘Me’ in this principle of renunciation as explained in Text 9.27

Liberation – Freedom from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results (“moksyase karma-bandhanaih”)

Realisation of Krishna – “Liberation and one comes to Me” (“vimukti” and “mam upaisyasi”)

a

‘Yukta’ — One who acts in Krishna consciousness under superior direction.

b

‘Yukta-vairagya’ — To perform actions and give the fruits to Krishna

c

‘How does this process work?’ — when one is situated in such renunciation, the following effects are seen:

Cleansing - Such activities clear the mirror of mind

Progress - Gradual progress in spiritual realisation

Surrender - Complete surrender to Supreme Personality of Godhead

Liberation - At the end becomes liberated

“Come to Me” indicates the “Kind of liberation” – Not brahmajyoti but entering into Lord’s planet (Indicated by the word Mam-upaisyasi)

d

Who is a real sannyasi — A Krishna conscious person – because of the following characteristics:

Niskama – No other interest but to dedicate life in service of the Lord

Servitude – Always thinks of himself as eternal servant

Dependence – Depends on Supreme will of the Lord

Beyond Vedic Rituals – Does not give serious attention to fruitive activities or prescribed ritualistic duties of the Vedas

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Prescribed duties are obligatory for ordinary persons

But a pure devotee who is completely engaged in Lord’s service may sometimes appear to go against prescribed duties but actually it is not so

Ref. CC Madhya-lila – One cannot understand the plans and activities of a pure devotee

A pure devotee is above all material criticisms just like Krishna

Connected verses · 1

Texts 9.28 & 9.29

Krishna stated earlier that He delivers His devotees and annihilates the miscreants, but shouldn’t the Supreme Lord, who is the father of all living entities, treat all – both the good and bad – equally? Is Krishna partial?

Further reading

The Glories Of Devotional Service To Krishna

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)

Chapter 9, section IV: The Glories Of Devotional Service To Krishna
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śubhafrom auspicious
  2. aśubhaand inauspicious
  3. phalaiḥresults
  4. evamthus
  5. mokṣyaseyou will become free
  6. karmaof work
  7. bandhanaiḥfrom the bondage
  8. sannyāsaof renunciation
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.28 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayRenunciation Through Service to KṛṣṇaOne practice from this verse

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