In Bhagavad Gita 4.24, Krishna declares that the act of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman; one who sees Brahman in all action reaches Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्
ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं
ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥ ४-२४ ॥
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havir
brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ
brahmakarmasamādhinā
English transliteration brahmaarpanam brahma havir
brahmaagnau brahmanaa hutam
brahmaiva tena gantavyam
brahmakarmasamaadhinaa ॥ 4.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The act of offering is Brahman; the oblation is Brahman; it is offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman alone is reached by one who is absorbed in Brahman through action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ब्रह्मार्पणम् brahmārpaṇam | the act of offering is Brahman brahma (Brahman) + arpaṇam (offering) |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| हविः haviḥ | the oblation |
| ब्रह्माग्नौ brahmāgnau | in the fire of Brahman brahma (Brahman) + agnau (in the fire) |
| ब्रह्मणा brahmaṇā | by Brahman |
| हुतम् hutam | offered |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| एव eva | alone |
| तेन tena | by him |
| गन्तव्यम् gantavyam | to be reached |
| ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना brahmakarmasamādhinā | by one absorbed in Brahman through action brahma (Brahman) + karma (action) + samādhinā (by absorption) |
Word-wise Chanting
- brah–mār–pa–ṇaṃ brah–ma ha–vir– 8 syllables brah-maar-pa-nam brah-ma ha-vir-
- brah–māg–nau brah–ma–ṇā hu–tam | 8 syllables brah-maag-nau brah-ma-naa hu-tam
- brah–mai–va te–na gan–tav–yaṃ 8 syllables brah-mai-va te-na gan-tav-yam
- brah–ma–kar–ma–sa–mā–dhi–nā || 4-24 8 syllables brah-ma-kar-ma-sa-maa-dhi-naa
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 4 Verse 24
Context
Krishna begins describing many kinds of sacrifice (4.24–4.33) with the highest vision of all.
Meaning
In this famous verse, every element of the sacrifice, the act of offering, the offering itself, the fire, the one who offers, and the goal, is seen as Brahman, the one reality. Nothing is outside the Divine. One who acts with this vision, brahma-karma-samādhi, absorption in Brahman through action, reaches Brahman.
This verse is traditionally chanted before meals in India, turning eating into a sacred act. It can be applied to any action: the worker, the work, the tools and the result are all expressions of one reality. Seeing this, action itself becomes meditation.
In Practice
Before eating today, recite this verse or reflect on its meaning: the food, the eater and the act of eating are all the Divine.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation 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.