In Bhagavad Gita 12.8, Krishna tells Arjuna to fix his mind and intellect on him alone; thereafter he will live in him without doubt.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व
मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव
अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ॥ १२-८ ॥
mayyeva mana ādhatsva
mayi buddhiṃ niveśaya
nivasiṣyasi mayyeva
ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
English transliteration mayyeva mana aadhatsva
mayi buddhim niveshaya
nivasishyasi mayyeva
ata oordhvam na samshayah ॥ 12.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Fix your mind on Me alone; let your intellect dwell in Me. Then you will live in Me alone hereafter; of this there is no doubt.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मयि mayi | on Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| आधत्स्व ādhatsva | fix |
| मयि mayi | in Me |
| बुद्धिम् buddhim | intellect |
| निवेशय niveśaya | let dwell |
| निवसिष्यसि nivasiṣyasi | you will live |
| मयि mayi | in Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| अतः ऊर्ध्वम् ataḥ ūrdhvam | hereafter |
| न na | not |
| संशयः saṃśayaḥ | doubt |
Word-wise Chanting
- may–ye–va ma–na ā–dhat–sva 8 syllables may-ye-va ma-na aa-dhat-sva
- ma–yi bud–dhiṃ ni–ve–śa–ya | 8 syllables ma-yi bud-dhim ni-ve-sha-ya
- ni–va–siṣ–ya–si may–ye–va 8 syllables ni-va-sish-ya-si may-ye-va
- a–ta ūr–dhvaṃ na saṃ–śa–yaḥ || 12-8 8 syllables a-ta oor-dhvam na sam-sha-yah
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 8
Context
Krishna gives a graded series of practices for devotees of different capacities (12.8–12.11).
Meaning
The highest practice is to fix both manas, the feeling mind, and buddhi, the discerning intellect, on the Divine. When both rest there, one lives in the Divine permanently. Krishna adds his assurance: there is no doubt.
This is the ideal. The following verses offer easier steps for those who find it difficult, showing Krishna’s understanding of human limitations.
In Practice
Let both your feelings and your thoughts turn toward the Divine for a period today.
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.