In Bhagavad Gita 9.22, Krishna says that for those who worship him with undivided thought, ever united with him, he brings what they lack and preserves what they have.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां
ये जनाः पर्युपासते
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां
योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ ९-२२ ॥
ananyāścintayanto māṃ
ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ
yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham
English transliteration ananyaashchintayanto maam
ye janaah paryupaasate
teshaam nityaabhiyuktaanaam
yogakshemam vahaamyaham ॥ 9.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
To those people who worship Me, thinking of no other, who are ever united with Me, I bring what they lack and preserve what they have.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनन्याः ananyāḥ | thinking of no other |
| चिन्तयन्तः cintayantaḥ | thinking |
| माम् mām | of Me |
| ये ye | who |
| जनाः janāḥ | people |
| पर्युपासते paryupāsate | worship |
| तेषाम् teṣām | for them |
| नित्याभियुक्तानाम् nityābhiyuktānām | ever united nitya (ever) + abhiyuktānām (united) |
| योगक्षेमम् yogakṣemam | what they lack and what they have yoga (gaining what is lacking) + kṣemam (preserving what is had) |
| वहामि vahāmi | carry, bring |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–nan–yāś–cin–ta–yan–to māṃ 8 syllables a-nan-yaash-chin-ta-yan-to maam
- ye ja–nāḥ par–yu–pā–sa–te | 8 syllables ye ja-naah par-yu-paa-sa-te
- te–ṣāṃ nit–yā–bhi–yuk–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables te-shaam nit-yaa-bhi-yuk-taa-naam
- yo–ga–kṣe–maṃ va–hām–ya–ham || 9-22 8 syllables yo-ga-kshe-mam va-haam-ya-ham
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 9 Verse 22
Context
Krishna gives one of the Gita’s best-known promises, contrasting devotion with desire-driven worship (9.20–9.22).
Meaning
Yoga-kṣema means both the acquiring of what one lacks and the preservation of what one has. For devotees who are ananya, single-minded, and nitya-abhiyukta, constantly devoted, the Divine personally takes responsibility for both. The word vahāmi, I carry, suggests the Divine carrying the burden itself.
This verse is a source of deep trust. Those who make the Divine their centre need not be anxious about their welfare. This is not an invitation to passivity, but to work without fear, trusting that one is cared for.
In Practice
Hand over one anxiety about your welfare to the Divine today, and continue your work without fear.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.