In Bhagavad Gita 5.29, the last verse of Chapter 5, Krishna says that knowing him as the enjoyer of sacrifices and austerities, the great Lord of all worlds and the friend of all beings, one attains peace.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां
सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्
सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां
ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति ॥ ५-२९ ॥
bhoktāraṃ yajñatapasāṃ
sarvalokamaheśvaram
suhṛdaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ
jñātvā māṃ śāntimṛcchati
English transliteration bhoktaaram yajnatapasaam
sarvalokamaheshvaram
suhridam sarvabhootaanaam
jnaatvaa maam shaantimrichchhati ॥ 5.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Knowing Me as the enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities, the great Lord of all the worlds, and the friend of all beings, one attains peace.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| भोक्तारम् bhoktāram | the enjoyer |
| यज्ञतपसाम् yajñatapasām | of sacrifices and austerities yajña (sacrifices) + tapasām (austerities) |
| सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् sarvalokamaheśvaram | the great Lord of all worlds sarva (all) + loka (worlds) + maheśvaram (great Lord) |
| सुहृदम् suhṛdam | the friend |
| सर्वभूतानाम् sarvabhūtānām | of all beings |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | knowing |
| माम् mām | Me |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| ऋच्छति ṛcchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- bhok–tā–raṃ ya–jña–ta–pa–sāṃ 8 syllables bhok-taa-ram ya-jna-ta-pa-saam
- sar–va–lo–ka–ma–heś–va–ram | 8 syllables sar-va-lo-ka-ma-hesh-va-ram
- su–hṛ–daṃ sar–va–bhū–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables su-hri-dam sar-va-bhoo-taa-naam
- jñāt–vā māṃ śān–ti–mṛc–cha–ti || 5-29 8 syllables jnaat-vaa maam shaan-ti-mrich-chha-ti
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 5 Verse 29
Context
The final verse of Chapter 5 crowns the teaching on renunciation and meditation with devotion.
Meaning
Krishna reveals himself as the bhoktā, the one who receives all sacrifices and austerities; the maheśvara, great Lord of all worlds; and, most tenderly, the suhṛt, the good-hearted friend of every being. Knowing the Divine in this way brings śānti, peace.
After all the teaching on discipline, the chapter ends with love. The Supreme is not a distant judge but a friend who wishes the good of all. When we know that every effort is received by such a friend, our hearts become peaceful. Devotion completes knowledge and action.
In Practice
Before sleep tonight, think of the Divine as your closest friend, who receives every sincere effort you made today. Rest in that friendship.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of 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.