In Bhagavad Gita 9.26, Krishna says that whoever offers him with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, he accepts that loving offering from the pure-hearted.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतम्
अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥ ९-२६ ॥
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
English transliteration patram pushpam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktyaa prayachchhati
tadaham bhaktyupahritam
ashnaami prayataatmanah ॥ 9.26 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of love from the pure-hearted I accept.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पत्रम् patram | a leaf |
| पुष्पम् puṣpam | a flower |
| फलम् phalam | a fruit |
| तोयम् toyam | water |
| यः yaḥ | whoever |
| मे me | to Me |
| भक्त्या bhaktyā | with devotion |
| प्रयच्छति prayacchati | offers |
| तत् tat | that |
| अहम् aham | I |
| भक्त्युपहृतम् bhaktyupahṛtam | offered with love bhakti (love) + upahṛtam (offered) |
| अश्नामि aśnāmi | accept, partake |
| प्रयतात्मनः prayatātmanaḥ | from the pure-hearted prayata (pure) + ātmanaḥ (hearted) |
Word-wise Chanting
- pat–raṃ puṣ–paṃ pha–laṃ to–yaṃ 8 syllables pat-ram push-pam pha-lam to-yam
- yo me bhak–tyā pra–yac–cha–ti | 8 syllables yo me bhak-tyaa pra-yach-chha-ti
- ta–da–haṃ bhak–tyu–pa–hṛ–tam– 8 syllables ta-da-ham bhak-tyu-pa-hri-tam-
- aś–nā–mi pra–ya–tāt–ma–naḥ || 9-26 8 syllables ash-naa-mi pra-ya-taat-ma-nah
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 26
Context
Krishna reveals the simplicity of true worship (9.26–9.28).
Meaning
The Divine does not need costly offerings. A simple patra, leaf, puṣpa, flower, phala, fruit, or toya, water, offered bhaktyā, with love, is accepted and even enjoyed by the Divine. What matters is the devotion and purity of heart, not the value of the gift.
This is one of the most loved verses of the Gita. It makes worship available to everyone, rich or poor. The smallest offering, given with love, is precious to God.
In Practice
Offer something simple today, a flower, a glass of water or a moment of attention, with sincere love.
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.