In Bhagavad Gita 12.7, Krishna says that for those whose minds are fixed on him, he soon becomes the one who lifts them out of the ocean of death and rebirth.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता
मृत्युसंसारसागरात्
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ
मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥ १२-७ ॥
teṣāmahaṃ samuddhartā
mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt
bhavāmi nacirātpārtha
mayyāveśitacetasām
English transliteration teshaamaham samuddhartaa
mrityusamsaarasaagaraat
bhavaami nachiraatpaartha
mayyaaveshitachetasaam ॥ 12.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
for them, whose minds are fixed on Me, I soon become the deliverer from the ocean of death and worldly existence, O Partha.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तेषाम् teṣām | for them |
| अहम् aham | I |
| समुद्धर्ता samuddhartā | the deliverer |
| मृत्युसंसारसागरात् mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt | from the ocean of death and worldly existence mṛtyu (death) + saṃsāra (worldly existence) + sāgarāt (from the ocean) |
| भवामि bhavāmi | become |
| नचिरात् nacirāt | soon |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| मयि mayi | on Me |
| आवेशितचेतसाम् āveśitacetasām | whose minds are fixed āveśita (fixed) + cetasām (minds) |
Word-wise Chanting
- te–ṣā–ma–haṃ sa–mud–dhar–tā 8 syllables te-shaa-ma-ham sa-mud-dhar-taa
- mṛt–yu–saṃ–sā–ra–sā–ga–rāt | 8 syllables mrit-yu-sam-saa-ra-saa-ga-raat
- bha–vā–mi na–ci–rāt–pār–tha 8 syllables bha-vaa-mi na-chi-raat-paar-tha
- may–yā–ve–śi–ta–ce–ta–sām || 12-7 8 syllables may-yaa-ve-shi-ta-che-ta-saam
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 7
Context
The sentence begun in 12.6 is completed here.
Meaning
For those whose minds rest in the Divine, the Divine itself becomes samuddhartā, the one who lifts them up and out of the vast ocean of death and repeated birth. And this happens nacirāt, soon. The devotee is not left to swim alone.
This is the essence of grace in the path of devotion. The seeker of the formless strives alone, but the devotee is lifted by the Beloved.
In Practice
When you feel overwhelmed by life, remember: the Divine is the one who lifts you out of the ocean.
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.