In Bhagavad Gita 3.30, Krishna tells Arjuna to surrender all actions to him, with mind fixed on the Self, and fight free from desire, possessiveness and anguish.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि
संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा
युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ॥ ३-३० ॥
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi
saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā
nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā
yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ
English transliteration mayi sarvaani karmaani
samnyasyaadhyaatmachetasaa
niraasheernirmamo bhootvaa
yudhyasva vigatajvarah ॥ 3.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Surrendering all actions to Me, with your mind fixed on the Self, free from desire and the sense of “mine,” and with your mental fever gone, fight.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मयि mayi | in Me |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| संन्यस्य saṃnyasya | surrendering |
| अध्यात्मचेतसा adhyātmacetasā | with mind fixed on the Self adhyātma (the Self) + cetasā (with the mind) |
| निराशीः nirāśīḥ | free from desire |
| निर्ममः nirmamaḥ | free from “mine” |
| भूत्वा bhūtvā | becoming |
| युध्यस्व yudhyasva | fight |
| विगतज्वरः vigatajvaraḥ | free from mental fever vigata (gone) + jvaraḥ (fever) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–yi sar–vā–ṇi kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables ma-yi sar-vaa-ni kar-maa-ni
- saṃn–yas–yādh–yāt–ma–ce–ta–sā | 8 syllables samn-yas-yaadh-yaat-ma-che-ta-saa
- ni–rā–śīr–nir–ma–mo bhūt–vā 8 syllables ni-raa-sheer-nir-ma-mo bhoot-vaa
- yudh–yas–va vi–ga–taj–va–raḥ || 3-30 8 syllables yudh-yas-va vi-ga-taj-va-rah
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 3 Verse 30
Context
Krishna gathers the teaching of the chapter into a single instruction to Arjuna.
Meaning
This verse combines the whole of karma yoga with devotion. Arjuna is to offer every action to the Divine, keep his mind turned to the Self, and act without desire, possessiveness or inner turmoil. Jvara, fever, describes the anxious heat of a mind gripped by worry. When action is surrendered, the fever subsides.
Surrender here does not mean passivity; Arjuna is told to fight. It means giving the outcome and the burden of doership to the Divine, while doing one’s part with full energy. Many people find that offering their work to God brings both peace and strength.
In Practice
Before a stressful task today, consciously surrender it to the Divine: “I do my part; the result is Yours.” Then act calmly.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). 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.