In Bhagavad Gita 18.78, the final verse, Sanjaya says wherever there is Krishna, Lord of yoga, and Arjuna, the archer, there are prosperity, victory, well-being and sound policy; this is his conviction.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो
यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्
ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥ १८-७८ ॥
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ
tatra śrīrvijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītirmatirmama
English transliteration yatra yogeshvarah krishno
yatra paartho dhanurdharah
tatra shreervijayo bhootir
dhruvaa neetirmatirmama ॥ 18.78 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Wherever there is Krishna, the Lord of yoga, and wherever there is Partha, the wielder of the bow, there will surely be prosperity, victory, well-being and sound policy. Such is my conviction.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत्र yatra | wherever |
| योगेश्वरः yogeśvaraḥ | the Lord of yoga |
| कृष्णः kṛṣṇaḥ | Kṛṣṇa |
| यत्र yatra | wherever |
| पार्थः pārthaḥ | Pārtha |
| धनुर्धरः dhanurdharaḥ | the wielder of the bow dhanuḥ (bow) + dharaḥ (wielder) |
| तत्र tatra | there |
| श्रीः śrīḥ | prosperity |
| विजयः vijayaḥ | victory |
| भूतिः bhūtiḥ | well-being |
| ध्रुवा dhruvā | surely |
| नीतिः nītiḥ | sound policy |
| मतिः matiḥ | conviction |
| मम mama | my |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–ra yo–geś–va–raḥ kṛṣ–ṇo 8 syllables yat-ra yo-gesh-va-rah krish-no
- yat–ra pār–tho dha–nur–dha–raḥ | 8 syllables yat-ra paar-tho dha-nur-dha-rah
- tat–ra śrīr–vi–ja–yo bhū–tir– 8 syllables tat-ra shreer-vi-ja-yo bhoo-tir-
- dhru–vā nī–tir–ma–tir–ma–ma || 18-78 8 syllables dhru-vaa nee-tir-ma-tir-ma-ma
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 78
Context
The final verse of the Bhagavad Gita, spoken by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra.
Meaning
The Gita ends with a statement of hope. Where yogeśvara Kṛṣṇa, divine wisdom, and dhanurdhara Pārtha, human effort ready for action, are together, there will be śrī, prosperity; vijaya, victory; bhūti, flourishing; and nīti, righteousness and wise conduct.
The final verse unites the Divine and the human. When divine guidance and dedicated human action come together, success in the deepest sense follows. This is the Gita’s promise for every life.
In Practice
Bring together divine guidance and your own wholehearted effort in one endeavour today.
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.