In Bhagavad Gita 11.55, the last verse of Chapter 11, Krishna says that one who works for him, takes him as the supreme goal, is devoted to him, free from attachment and without enmity toward any being, comes to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो
मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः
निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु
यः स मामेति पाण्डव ॥ ११-५५ ॥
matkarmakṛnmatparamo
madbhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ
nirvairaḥ sarvabhūteṣu
yaḥ sa māmeti pāṇḍava
English transliteration matkarmakrinmatparamo
madbhaktah sangavarjitah
nirvairah sarvabhooteshu
yah sa maameti paandava ॥ 11.55 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whoever does My work, regards Me as the supreme goal, is devoted to Me, free from attachment and without enmity toward any being, comes to Me, O son of Pandu.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मत्कर्मकृत् matkarmakṛt | doing My work mat (My) + karma (work) + kṛt (doing) |
| मत्परमः matparamaḥ | regarding Me as supreme mat (Me) + paramaḥ (supreme) |
| मद्भक्तः madbhaktaḥ | devoted to Me mat (Me) + bhaktaḥ (devoted) |
| सङ्गवर्जितः saṅgavarjitaḥ | free from attachment saṅga (attachment) + varjitaḥ (free) |
| निर्वैरः nirvairaḥ | without enmity |
| सर्वभूतेषु sarvabhūteṣu | toward all beings |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सः saḥ | he |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| एति eti | comes |
| पाण्डव pāṇḍava | O son of Pāṇḍu |
Word-wise Chanting
- mat–kar–ma–kṛn–mat–pa–ra–mo 8 syllables mat-kar-ma-krin-mat-pa-ra-mo
- mad–bhak–taḥ saṅ–ga–var–ji–taḥ | 8 syllables mad-bhak-tah san-ga-var-ji-tah
- nir–vai–raḥ sar–va–bhū–te–ṣu 8 syllables nir-vai-rah sar-va-bhoo-te-shu
- yaḥ sa mā–me–ti pāṇ–ḍa–va || 11-55 8 syllables yah sa maa-me-ti paan-da-va
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 55
Context
The final verse of Chapter 11 summarises the whole path; it is often called the essence of the Gita.
Meaning
Five qualities describe the true devotee: mat-karma-kṛt, doing all work for the Divine; mat-parama, holding the Divine as the highest; mad-bhakta, loving it; saṅga-varjita, free from attachment; and nirvaira, without hostility toward any being. Such a person comes to the Divine.
After the overwhelming vision, Krishna returns to the simplest practical teaching. The cosmic vision is rare, but this path is open to everyone. Note the last quality: love of God includes freedom from hatred toward anyone.
In Practice
Practise all five today, and especially examine your heart for any hostility toward another person; let it go.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.