In Bhagavad Gita 9.34, the last verse of Chapter 9, Krishna tells Arjuna to fix his mind on him, be devoted to him, worship him, bow to him, and so united, he will surely come to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो
मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवम्
आत्मानं मत्परायणः ॥ ९-३४ ॥
manmanā bhava madbhakto
madyājī māṃ namaskuru
māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṃ matparāyaṇaḥ
English transliteration manmanaa bhava madbhakto
madyaajee maam namaskuru
maamevaishyasi yuktvaivam
aatmaanam matparaayanah ॥ 9.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, bow down to Me. Thus united with Me, taking Me as your supreme goal, you will surely come to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मन्मनाः manmanāḥ | with mind fixed on Me mat (Me) + manāḥ (mind) |
| भव bhava | be |
| मद्भक्तः madbhaktaḥ | devoted to Me mat (Me) + bhaktaḥ (devoted) |
| मद्याजी madyājī | worshipping Me mat (Me) + yājī (worshipper) |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| नमस्कुरु namaskuru | bow down |
| माम् mām | to Me |
| एव eva | surely |
| एष्यसि eṣyasi | you will come |
| युक्त्वा yuktvā | united |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | yourself |
| मत्परायणः matparāyaṇaḥ | taking Me as the supreme goal mat (Me) + parāyaṇaḥ (supreme goal) |
Word-wise Chanting
- man–ma–nā bha–va mad–bhak–to 8 syllables man-ma-naa bha-va mad-bhak-to
- mad–yā–jī māṃ na–mas–ku–ru | 8 syllables mad-yaa-jee maam na-mas-ku-ru
- mā–me–vaiṣ–ya–si yuk–tvai–vam– 8 syllables maa-me-vaish-ya-si yuk-tvai-vam-
- āt–mā–naṃ mat–pa–rā–ya–ṇaḥ || 9-34 8 syllables aat-maa-nam mat-pa-raa-ya-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 34
Context
The final verse of Chapter 9 summarises the path of devotion; it is repeated almost exactly in 18.65.
Meaning
Krishna gives four simple practices: man-manā, keep the mind on the Divine; mad-bhakta, be devoted; mad-yājī, offer worship; and namaskuru, bow in humility. Whoever lives this way, with the Divine as mat-parāyaṇa, the supreme goal, will surely reach it.
The whole spiritual life is summed up in these four acts: remembering, loving, offering and bowing. They are simple enough for anyone and deep enough for a lifetime.
In Practice
Practise all four today: remember the Divine, love it, offer one act to it and bow once in humility.
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.