In Bhagavad Gita 9.28, Krishna says that by offering all actions in this way, Arjuna will be freed from the bonds of good and bad results and, liberated through the yoga of renunciation, will come to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं
मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा
विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि ॥ ९-२८ ॥
śubhāśubhaphalairevaṃ
mokṣyase karmabandhanaiḥ
saṃnyāsayogayuktātmā
vimukto māmupaiṣyasi
English transliteration shubhaashubhaphalairevam
mokshyase karmabandhanaih
samnyaasayogayuktaatmaa
vimukto maamupaishyasi ॥ 9.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus you will be freed from the bonds of action, with their good and bad fruits. With your mind steadfast in the yoga of renunciation, liberated, you will come to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शुभाशुभफलैः śubhāśubhaphalaiḥ | with good and bad fruits śubha (good) + aśubha (bad) + phalaiḥ (fruits) |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| मोक्ष्यसे mokṣyase | you will be freed |
| कर्मबन्धनैः karmabandhanaiḥ | from the bonds of action karma (action) + bandhanaiḥ (bonds) |
| संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा saṃnyāsayogayuktātmā | with mind steadfast in the yoga of renunciation saṃnyāsa (renunciation) + yoga (yoga) + yukta (steadfast) + ātmā (mind) |
| विमुक्तः vimuktaḥ | liberated |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| उपैष्यसि upaiṣyasi | you will come |
Word-wise Chanting
- śu–bhā–śu–bha–pha–lai–re–vaṃ 8 syllables shu-bhaa-shu-bha-pha-lai-re-vam
- mokṣ–ya–se kar–ma–ban–dha–naiḥ | 8 syllables moksh-ya-se kar-ma-ban-dha-naih
- saṃn–yā–sa–yo–ga–yuk–tāt–mā 8 syllables samn-yaa-sa-yo-ga-yuk-taat-maa
- vi–muk–to mā–mu–paiṣ–ya–si || 9-28 8 syllables vi-muk-to maa-mu-paish-ya-si
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 28
Context
Krishna states the result of offering all actions (9.26–9.28).
Meaning
When every action is offered to the Divine, its results, śubha and aśubha, good and bad, no longer bind. This is saṃnyāsa-yoga, renunciation of ownership of action, not of action itself. Freed from the chains of karma, the devotee comes to the Divine.
The verse joins devotion and karma yoga. Offering frees us from the burden of results. We act fully, but we no longer carry the weight of our actions alone.
In Practice
Notice the relief that comes from offering an outcome to the Divine rather than carrying it yourself.
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.