In Bhagavad Gita 6.31, Krishna says the yogi established in unity who worships him as dwelling in all beings lives in him, however he may be living.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां
भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि
स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥ ६-३१ ॥
sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ
bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ
sarvathā vartamāno’pi
sa yogī mayi vartate
English transliteration sarvabhootasthitam yo maam
bhajatyekatvamaasthitah
sarvathaa vartamaano’pi
sa yogee mayi vartate ॥ 6.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The yogi who, established in oneness, worships Me as dwelling in all beings, lives in Me, in whatever way he may be living.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वभूतस्थितम् sarvabhūtasthitam | dwelling in all beings sarva (all) + bhūta (beings) + sthitam (dwelling) |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| माम् mām | Me |
| भजति bhajati | worships |
| एकत्वम् ekatvam | oneness |
| आस्थितः āsthitaḥ | established in |
| सर्वथा sarvathā | in every way |
| वर्तमानः vartamānaḥ | living |
| अपि api | even |
| सः saḥ | he |
| योगी yogī | the yogi |
| मयि mayi | in Me |
| वर्तते vartate | lives |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–va–bhū–tas–thi–taṃ yo māṃ 8 syllables sar-va-bhoo-tas-thi-tam yo maam
- bha–jat–ye–kat–va–mās–thi–taḥ | 8 syllables bha-jat-ye-kat-va-maas-thi-tah
- sar–va–thā var–ta–mā–no–‘pi 8 syllables sar-va-thaa var-ta-maa-no-‘pi
- sa yo–gī ma–yi var–ta–te || 6-31 8 syllables sa yo-gee ma-yi var-ta-te
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 6 Verse 31
Context
Krishna continues to describe the unity-seeing yogi (6.29–6.32).
Meaning
Established in ekatva, oneness, the yogi worships the Divine dwelling in all beings. Such a person lives in the Divine sarvathā, in every circumstance, whatever their outer life may be, active or retired, rich or poor. Their worship is the way they relate to every being.
Worship here is not limited to temple rituals. Serving and honouring beings as dwelling places of the Divine is itself worship. A doctor caring for patients, a teacher with students, a parent with children: all can be living in the Divine through such service.
In Practice
Treat one person you serve today as a dwelling place of the Divine, and serve them with that reverence.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.