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Bhagavad-gītā 12.8

मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय । निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशय: ॥ ८ ॥
mayy eva mana ādhatsva
[mayy eva mana aadhatsva]
mayi buddhiṁ niveśaya
[mayi buddhim niveshaya]
nivasiṣyasi mayy eva
[nivasishyasi mayy eva]
ata ūrdhvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ
[ata oordhvam na samshayah]
Word-for-word
mayi — upon Me eva — certainly manaḥ — mind ādhatsva — fix mayi — upon Me buddhim — intelligence niveśaya — apply nivasiṣyasi — you will live mayi — in Me eva — certainly ataḥ ūrdhvam — thereafter na — never saṁśayaḥ — doubt .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mayy eva mana ādhatsva
mayi
upon Me
eva
certainly
manaḥ
mind
ādhatsva
fix
mayi buddhiṁ niveśaya
mayi
upon Me
buddhim
intelligence
niveśaya
apply
nivasiṣyasi mayy eva
nivasiṣyasi
you will live
mayi
in Me
eva
certainly
ata ūrdhvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ
ataḥ ūrdhvam
thereafter
na
never
saṁśayaḥ
doubt .
Important Words
  • ādhatsva — fix, place
    Imperative middle of ā-dhā, 'to place upon, set down.' Same root as ādhāna — the laying of the sacred fire. The mind is to be installed in Kṛṣṇa the way a Vedic flame is installed on an altar: deliberately, ritually, once.
  • niveśaya — apply, settle, cause to enter
    Causative imperative of ni-viś — 'cause to dwell.' Same root as niveśa (settlement). The intelligence is not visiting Kṛṣṇa; it is being settled in Him as a colonist settles in new land.
  • buddhim — intelligence
    Distinct from manas (mind). Kṛṣṇa names both faculties separately — the mind to fix, the intelligence to absorb — because each binds the soul to a different layer of the inner instrument.
  • nivasiṣyasi — you will live
    Future of ni-vas, 'to dwell.' Same root as nivāsa (residence). Place mind and intelligence in Him, and you will not merely think of Him — you will reside in Him. The verse promises a change of address.
  • ataḥ ūrdhvam — thereafter, from this point upward
    Ataḥ (from this) + ūrdhvam (upward). A temporal vector: from the moment of fixing, time flows upward. The phrase brackets the act of placement as a watershed event.
  • saṁśayaḥ — doubt
    From sam-śī, 'to lie on both sides at once.' Negated in the verse (na saṁśayaḥ) — Kṛṣṇa's signature seal of certainty, used at the close of many crucial instructions in the Gītā. He does not soften this with 'perhaps.' The verse is short because nothing further needs to be added.
Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Kṛṣṇa now begins the four-step ladder of practice. Step one: just direct mind and intelligence to Me, and you will live in Me. The phrasing is intimate, the assurance unambiguous — 'na saṁśayaḥ' closes the door on any need to debate the outcome.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Two faculties named: manas (the deliberative organ of attention) and buddhi (the deciding faculty). Two imperatives: ādhatsva (place) and niveśaya (cause to enter). The promise — 'nivasiṣyasi' — is future indicative, not optative: not 'you might', but 'you will'. This first rung is the ideal; the next three verses (12.9-12) descend through a graduated set of fallbacks for those who cannot manage it.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
मयि एव मनः आधत्स्व, मयि बुद्धिम् निवेशय; अतः ऊर्ध्वम् मयि एव निवसिष्यसि — न संशयः।
mayi eva manaḥ ādhatsva, mayi buddhim niveśaya; ataḥ ūrdhvam mayi eva nivasiṣyasi — na saṃśayaḥ|
Place the mind on Me alone; settle the intelligence into Me. Hereafter you will dwell in Me — there is no doubt.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
मयि एव मनः आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिम् निवेशय । निवसिष्यसि मयि एव अतः ऊर्ध्वम् न संशयः ॥
mayi eva manaḥ ādhatsva mayi buddhim niveśaya | nivasiṣyasi mayi eva ataḥ ūrdhvam na saṃśayaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
मयि एव mayi eva अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) loc.sg. (locative singular) + ind. (indeclinable) in Me alone
मनः manaḥ मनस् (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) the mind
आधत्स्व ādhatsva आ + √धा impv. 2sg.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) place, set
बुद्धिम् buddhim बुद्धि (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) the intelligence
निवेशय niveśaya नि + √विश् caus. (causative) impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) cause to enter, settle
निवसिष्यसि nivasiṣyasi नि + √वस् fut. (future) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) you will dwell
अतः ऊर्ध्वम् ataḥ ūrdhvam ind. (indeclinable) + ind. (indeclinable) from this onward, hereafter
न na ind. (indeclinable), negative not
संशयः saṃśayaḥ सम् + √शी noun nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. doubt
Purport

One who is engaged in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service lives in a direct relationship with the Supreme Lord, so there is no doubt that his position is transcendental from the very beginning. A devotee does not live on the material plane – he lives in Kṛṣṇa. The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee. When he offers Kṛṣṇa food, Kṛṣṇa directly accepts these eatables, and the devotee becomes Kṛṣṇa-ized by eating the remnants. One who does not engage in such service cannot understand how this is so, although this is a process recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā and in other Vedic literatures.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
8. Concentrate your mind only on Me. Fix your intelligence on Me. You will attain residence with Me after leaving the body, without doubt.
Commentary

“Since bhakti is the best, please perform only bhakti.” He teaches this bhakti in three verses. The word eva excludes the impersonal aspect of the Lord. Concentrate your mind on Me only, remember only Me (mayy eva mana ādhatsva), that form of Śyāmasundara, with yellow cloth and forest garland—and not the impersonal Brahman. And also, fix your intelligence, which has the power of discrimination, upon Me. This means to continually reflect on the statements of scripture using intelligence, which will result in meditation. Such contemplation is called manana. Thus, you will attain residence near Me. Nivasiṣyasi is a poetic form of nivatsyasi (future of nivas) for metrical purpose.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
8. Concentrate your mind only on Me. Fix your intelligence on Me. You will without doubt attain residence with Me after leaving the body.
Commentary

Since this is so, concentrate your mind upon Me alone, not upon your ātmā (mayi eva ādhatsva). Offer your intellect to Me. Doing this, you will live very close Me, Kṛṣṇa (mayi). You are not like the saniṣṭha devotee, who, after realizing the enjoyments of svarga, attains Me in a majestic form (but not close to Me).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

"In Me", means "Near Me".

In jnana one fixes his mind on the fact that he is the soul. In Krsna consciousness one fixes his mind on Krsna. This is the ultimate process of bhakti according to Srila Rupa Goswami: 'never forget Krsna'. This is the first stage: fixing one's mind upon Krsna. The second stage is:

[2. Practicing the regulative principles of bhakti yoga to increase one's desire and ability to remember and obtain Krsna.(9)]

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Perform devotional service by thinking exclusively of Krishna

Fix mind upon Me
Engage all your intelligence in Me
Benefit – You will ‘live in Me’ always without a doubt
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
12.8 Adhatsva, fix manah, the mind-possessed of the power of thinking and doubting; mayi, on Me, on God as the Cosmic Person; eva, alone. Mayi, in Me; eva, alone; nivesaya, rest; the buddhim, intellect, which engages in determining (things). Listen to what will happen to you thery: Na samsayah, there is no doubt-no doubt should be entertained with regard to this; that atah urdhvam, hereafter, after the fall of the body; nivasisyasi, you will dwell; mayi, in Me, live in identity withMe; eva, alone.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
12.8 'Focus your mind on Me alone,' on account of My being the unsurpassed end of human endeavour and on My being easily attainable without delay. Focus your mind in meditation on Me alone. Let your Buddhi 'enter into Me,' strengthened by the conviction that I alone am the supreme object to be attained. Then you will 'live in Me alone,' i.e., You will live in Me alone immediately after focusing your mind on Me by forming the conviction that I alone am the supreme object to be attained.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
12.6-8 Ye tu etc. upto asthitah. Those who renounce all (all actions) in Me according to the instruction related above - of them I am the redeemer from all the afflictions like obstacles [on the way to realisation] etc. The act of causing the mind to enter [into the Supreme] has been explained (under XII, 2 above). Therefore, this alone is the highest form of Yoga, because it is natural. Hence [I have said] in my Hymn : 'If, during [one's] concentration, reflecting with high esteem and remaining in a [particular] posture, and the best process (karana), a person causes a certain awakening to shine forth, that is not the Consciousness of Yours (i.e. of the Goddess) that rises up perennially and flows with its own (unadulterated) taste; for, here (in the former) too the presence of the triad is distinctly felt. On the other hand, when [glowing] without fuel; holding to its independence; following horripilation, [bodily] shake and tears, [all] breaking forth spontaneously; and clearly assuming the indifference [even] to the body; the awakening fire of Consciousness suddely shines, on its own accord simultaneously; then alone, O Goddess, that body of Yours, the mightly Lord (Mahesa) is realised - a body which is devoid of [all] supports, and which breaks the bondage of the dependent.' And so on.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
12.8 Fix thy mind in Me only, thy intellect in Me, (then) thou shalt no doubt live in Me alone hereafter.
Commentary

12.8 मयि in Me? एव only? मनः the mind? आधत्स्व fix? मयि in Me? बुद्धिम् (thy) intellect? निवेशय place? निवसिष्यसि thou shalt live? मयि in Me? एव alone? अतः ऊर्ध्वम् hereafter? न not? संशयः doubt.Commentary Fix thy mind means thy purposes and thoughts in Me the Lord in the Cosmic Form. Give up entirely all thoughts of sensual objects. Fix in Me thy intellect also -- the faculty which resolves and determines.What will be the result then Thou shalt undoubtedly live in Me as Myself. O Arjuna? of this there is no doubt whatsoever.The Yoga of meditation is described in this verse. (Cf.VIII.7X.9XI.34XVIII.65)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
12.8 Fix the mind on Me alone; in Me alone rest the intellect. There is no doubt that hereafter you will dwell in Me alone. [For the sake of metre, eva and atah (in the second line of the verse) are not joined together (to form evatah).]
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
12.8 Then let thy mind cling only to Me, let thy intellect abide in Me; and without doubt thou shalt live hereafter in Me alone.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 8.7 BG 9.34 BG 18.65 SB 2.1.5 SB 2.9.36 SB 11.14.27 CC Madhya 22.31 CC Madhya 22.128 CC Antya 6.237 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.2.3BRS 1.2.234
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Just fix your mind upon Me; let your intelligence be absorbed in Me — thus you will live in Me always; do not doubt this.
Practical Applications
  • Apply the simple instruction: fix the mind, absorb the intelligence.
  • Don't add complexity; the verse is direct.
  • Treat 'do not doubt' as Kṛṣṇa's specific reassurance.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I added complexity to a simple instruction?
  • What does 'just fix your mind' actually look like today?
Analogy

A child setting up house in his father's mansion does not need to negotiate a lease or memorize the deeds. He simply walks in, lays down his head, and lives there. Kṛṣṇa says the mind is exactly such a tenant: place it in Me, place the intelligence beside it, and from then on you live in Me. That is not metaphor; that is residency.

Stories
Prahlāda in his father's hall

Whether Hiraṇyakaśipu's guards were beating him, snakes were biting him, or elephants were trampling him, Prahlāda's mind never left Viṣṇu. School lessons could not pull it away; threats could not pull it away; even the moment of his father's death could not pull it away.

This is mayi eva manaḥ ādhatsva in lived form: the mind so placed in the Lord that no external pressure can dislodge it. Prahlāda did not 'visit' Kṛṣṇa in meditation — he resided there, exactly as this verse promises: nivasiṣyasi mayi eva.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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