In Bhagavad Gita 12.4, Krishna says that those who worship the formless, controlling their senses, even-minded everywhere and devoted to the welfare of all beings, also reach him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं
सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव
सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥ १२-४ ॥
sanniyamyendriyagrāmaṃ
sarvatra samabuddhayaḥ
te prāpnuvanti māmeva
sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ
English transliteration sanniyamyendriyagraamam
sarvatra samabuddhayah
te praapnuvanti maameva
sarvabhootahite rataah ॥ 12.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
having controlled all the senses, even-minded everywhere, rejoicing in the welfare of all beings, they too reach Me alone.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सन्नियम्य sanniyamya | having controlled |
| इन्द्रियग्रामम् indriyagrāmam | all the senses indriya (senses) + grāmam (group) |
| सर्वत्र sarvatra | everywhere |
| समबुद्धयः samabuddhayaḥ | even-minded sama (even) + buddhayaḥ (minded) |
| ते te | they |
| प्राप्नुवन्ति prāpnuvanti | reach |
| माम् mām | Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| सर्वभूतहिते sarvabhūtahite | in the welfare of all beings sarva (all) + bhūta (beings) + hite (welfare) |
| रताः ratāḥ | rejoicing |
Word-wise Chanting
- san–ni–yam–yen–dri–yag–rā–maṃ 8 syllables san-ni-yam-yen-dri-yag-raa-mam
- sar–vat–ra sa–ma–bud–dha–yaḥ | 8 syllables sar-vat-ra sa-ma-bud-dha-yah
- te prāp–nu–van–ti mā–me–va 8 syllables te praap-nu-van-ti maa-me-va
- sar–va–bhū–ta–hi–te ra–tāḥ || 12-4 8 syllables sar-va-bhoo-ta-hi-te ra-taah
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 12 Verse 4
Context
The sentence begun in 12.3 is completed here.
Meaning
The worshippers of the formless also reach the Divine, provided they have mastered their senses, are sama-buddhi, even-minded toward everything, and are sarvabhūta-hite ratāḥ, delighting in the good of all beings. Both paths lead to the same goal.
The condition “devoted to the welfare of all beings” is important. Realisation of the formless is not cold detachment but includes love and service of all.
In Practice
Do one act today purely for the welfare of others, without seeking anything for yourself.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion). 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.