In Bhagavad Gita 8.22, Krishna says that the supreme Person, within whom all beings dwell and by whom all this is pervaded, is attained through undivided devotion.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पुरुषः स परः पार्थ
भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया
यस्यान्तःस्थानि भूतानि
येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥ ८-२२ ॥
puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha
bhaktyā labhyastvananyayā
yasyāntaḥsthāni bhūtāni
yena sarvamidaṃ tatam
English transliteration purushah sa parah paartha
bhaktyaa labhyastvananyayaa
yasyaantahsthaani bhootaani
yena sarvamidam tatam ॥ 8.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That supreme Person, O Partha, within whom all beings dwell and by whom all this is pervaded, is attained by undivided devotion.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | Person |
| सः saḥ | that |
| परः paraḥ | supreme |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| भक्त्या bhaktyā | by devotion |
| लभ्यः labhyaḥ | attained |
| तु tu | indeed |
| अनन्यया ananyayā | undivided |
| यस्य yasya | within whom |
| अन्तःस्थानि antaḥsthāni | dwelling antaḥ (within) + sthāni (dwelling) |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| येन yena | by whom |
| सर्वम् sarvam | all |
| इदम् idam | this |
| ततम् tatam | pervaded |
Word-wise Chanting
- pu–ru–ṣaḥ sa pa–raḥ pār–tha 8 syllables pu-ru-shah sa pa-rah paar-tha
- bhak–tyā labh–yas–tva–nan–ya–yā | 8 syllables bhak-tyaa labh-yas-tva-nan-ya-yaa
- yas–yān–taḥs–thā–ni bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables yas-yaan-tahs-thaa-ni bhoo-taa-ni
- ye–na sar–va–mi–daṃ ta–tam || 8-22 8 syllables ye-na sar-va-mi-dam ta-tam
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 8 Verse 22
Context
Krishna names the means to reach his supreme abode (continuing 8.21).
Meaning
The supreme Person contains all beings within himself and pervades everything. And he is attained bhaktyā ananyayā, by undivided devotion. The vast reality that holds the universe is reached not by power or cleverness but by love.
This verse joins cosmic vision and personal devotion. The infinite that pervades all is also the beloved who responds to wholehearted love.
In Practice
Offer the Divine a moment of undivided love today, free from any request.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). 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.