In Bhagavad Gita 9.31, Krishna says such a person quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace; Arjuna should declare that his devotee never perishes.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा
शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि
न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ॥ ९-३१ ॥
kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā
śaśvacchāntiṃ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijānīhi
na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati
English transliteration kshipram bhavati dharmaatmaa
shashvachchhaantim nigachchhati
kaunteya pratijaaneehi
na me bhaktah pranashyati ॥ 9.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly: My devotee never perishes.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| क्षिप्रम् kṣipram | quickly |
| भवति bhavati | becomes |
| धर्मात्मा dharmātmā | righteous dharma (righteousness) + ātmā (soul) |
| शश्वत् śaśvat | lasting |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| निगच्छति nigacchati | attains |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| प्रतिजानीहि pratijānīhi | declare |
| न na | not |
| मे me | My |
| भक्तः bhaktaḥ | devotee |
| प्रणश्यति praṇaśyati | perishes |
Word-wise Chanting
- kṣip–raṃ bha–va–ti dhar–māt–mā 8 syllables kship-ram bha-va-ti dhar-maat-maa
- śaś–vac–chān–tiṃ ni–gac–cha–ti | 8 syllables shash-vach-chhaan-tim ni-gach-chha-ti
- kaun–te–ya pra–ti–jā–nī–hi 8 syllables kaun-te-ya pra-ti-jaa-nee-hi
- na me bhak–taḥ pra–ṇaś–ya–ti || 9-31 8 syllables na me bhak-tah pra-nash-ya-ti
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 31
Context
Krishna completes the promise of 9.30.
Meaning
The one who turns to the Divine soon becomes dharmātmā, righteous in nature, and attains śaśvat śānti, enduring peace. Krishna asks Arjuna to pratijānīhi, proclaim this as a solemn promise: na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati, my devotee never perishes.
The change from wrongdoing to righteousness does not take a lifetime; it can happen kṣipram, quickly, once the heart turns. And the devotee is never lost. This is one of the Gita’s great assurances.
In Practice
Repeat to yourself today: “The Divine’s devotee never perishes,” and let it strengthen your trust.
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.