In Bhagavad Gita 9.27, Krishna tells Arjuna that whatever he does, eats, offers in sacrifice, gives or performs as austerity, he should do it as an offering to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि
यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥ ९-२७ ॥
yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi
yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat
yattapasyasi kaunteya
tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam
English transliteration yatkaroshi yadashnaasi
yajjuhoshi dadaasi yat
yattapasyasi kaunteya
tatkurushva madarpanam ॥ 9.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give, whatever austerity you perform, O son of Kunti, do it as an offering to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | whatever |
| करोषि karoṣi | you do |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| अश्नासि aśnāsi | you eat |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| जुहोषि juhoṣi | you offer in sacrifice |
| ददासि dadāsi | you give |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| तपस्यसि tapasyasi | you perform as austerity |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| तत् tat | that |
| कुरुष्व kuruṣva | do |
| मदर्पणम् madarpaṇam | as an offering to Me mat (Me) + arpaṇam (offering) |
Word-wise Chanting
- yat–ka–ro–ṣi ya–daś–nā–si 8 syllables yat-ka-ro-shi ya-dash-naa-si
- yaj–ju–ho–ṣi da–dā–si yat | 8 syllables yaj-ju-ho-shi da-daa-si yat
- yat–ta–pas–ya–si kaun–te–ya 8 syllables yat-ta-pas-ya-si kaun-te-ya
- tat–ku–ruṣ–va ma–dar–pa–ṇam || 9-27 8 syllables tat-ku-rush-va ma-dar-pa-nam
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 27
Context
Krishna extends the idea of offering to the whole of life (9.26–9.28).
Meaning
Worship need not be confined to rituals. Every activity, ordinary actions, eating, religious offerings, charity and discipline, can be made mad-arpaṇa, an offering to the Divine. When all of life is offered, all of life becomes worship.
This verse dissolves the boundary between sacred and secular. There is no part of life too ordinary to be offered. The attitude of offering transforms everything.
In Practice
Before each meal and each major task today, silently say, “This is my offering.”
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.