In Bhagavad Gita 18.65, Krishna tells Arjuna to fix his mind on him, be his devotee, worship him and bow to him; he will surely come to him, Krishna promises, for Arjuna is dear to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो
मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते
प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ॥ १८-६५ ॥
manmanā bhava madbhakto
madyājī māṃ namaskuru
māmevaiṣyasi satyaṃ te
pratijāne priyo’si me
English transliteration manmanaa bhava madbhakto
madyaajee maam namaskuru
maamevaishyasi satyam te
pratijaane priyo’si me ॥ 18.65 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, bow down to Me. You will come to Me alone; I promise you truly, for you are dear to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मन्मनाः manmanāḥ | with mind fixed on Me |
| भव bhava | be |
| मद्भक्तः madbhaktaḥ | devoted to Me |
| मद्याजी madyājī | worshipping Me |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| नमस्कुरु namaskuru | bow down |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| एष्यसि eṣyasi | you will come |
| सत्यम् satyam | truly |
| ते te | to you |
| प्रतिजाने pratijāne | I promise |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
| असि asi | you are |
| मे me | to Me |
Word-wise Chanting
- man–ma–nā bha–va mad–bhak–to 8 syllables man-ma-naa bha-va mad-bhak-to
- mad–yā–jī māṃ na–mas–ku–ru | 8 syllables mad-yaa-jee maam na-mas-ku-ru
- mā–me–vaiṣ–ya–si sat–yaṃ te 8 syllables maa-me-vaish-ya-si sat-yam te
- pra–ti–jā–ne pri–yo–‘si me || 18-65 8 syllables pra-ti-jaa-ne pri-yo-‘si me
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 18 Verse 65
Context
Krishna gives his final teaching (18.64–18.66); this repeats 9.34 with a solemn promise.
Meaning
Krishna repeats the fourfold path of 9.34: remember, love, worship and bow to the Divine. Then he adds a personal vow: satyaṃ te pratijāne, I truly promise you, priyo’si me, for you are dear to me.
The Divine binds itself by a promise to those who love it. This is the heart of the Gita’s message of grace.
In Practice
Practise the four acts today, remembering, loving, offering and bowing, and trust the Divine’s promise.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.