In Bhagavad Gita 7.29, Krishna says those who strive for freedom from old age and death by taking refuge in him come to know Brahman, the Self and all action.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
जरामरणमोक्षाय
मामाश्रित्य यतन्ति ये
ते ब्रह्म तद्विदुः कृत्स्नम्
अध्यात्मं कर्म चाखिलम् ॥ ७-२९ ॥
jarāmaraṇamokṣāya
māmāśritya yatanti ye
te brahma tadviduḥ kṛtsnam
adhyātmaṃ karma cākhilam
English transliteration jaraamaranamokshaaya
maamaashritya yatanti ye
te brahma tadviduh kritsnam
adhyaatmam karma chaakhilam ॥ 7.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those who, taking refuge in Me, strive for liberation from old age and death, come to know Brahman fully, the Self and all of action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| जरामरणमोक्षाय jarāmaraṇamokṣāya | for liberation from old age and death jarā (old age) + maraṇa (death) + mokṣāya (for liberation) |
| माम् mām | Me |
| आश्रित्य āśritya | taking refuge |
| यतन्ति yatanti | strive |
| ये ye | who |
| ते te | they |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| तत् tat | that |
| विदुः viduḥ | know |
| कृत्स्नम् kṛtsnam | fully |
| अध्यात्मम् adhyātmam | the Self |
| कर्म karma | action |
| च ca | and |
| अखिलम् akhilam | all |
Word-wise Chanting
- ja–rā–ma–ra–ṇa–mo–kṣā–ya 8 syllables ja-raa-ma-ra-na-mo-kshaa-ya
- mā–māś–rit–ya ya–tan–ti ye | 8 syllables maa-maash-rit-ya ya-tan-ti ye
- te brah–ma tad–vi–duḥ kṛt–snam– 8 syllables te brah-ma tad-vi-duh krit-snam-
- adh–yāt–maṃ kar–ma cā–khi–lam || 7-29 8 syllables adh-yaat-mam kar-ma chaa-khi-lam
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 7 Verse 29
Context
Krishna introduces technical terms that will be explained in Chapter 8 (7.29–7.30).
Meaning
Those who seek freedom from jarā and maraṇa, old age and death, and take refuge in the Divine, come to know three things: Brahman, the Absolute; adhyātma, the individual Self; and karma, the whole nature of action. Their search for freedom leads them to complete knowledge.
The universal human fear of ageing and death can become a powerful motivation for spiritual seeking. When it leads us to take refuge in the Divine, it opens the door to knowledge of the eternal.
In Practice
Reflect calmly on ageing and death today. Let the reflection lead you to seek the eternal, not to fear.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). 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.