FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 9.34

మన్మనా భవ మద్భ‍క్తో మద్యాజీ మాం నమస్కురు । మామేవైష్యసి యుక్త్వైవమాత్మానం మత్పరాయణ: ॥ ౩౪ ॥
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
[man-manaa bhava mad-bhakto]
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
[mad-yaajee maam namaskuru]
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
[maam evaishyasi yuktvaivam]
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ
[aatmaanam mat-paraayanah]
Word-for-word
mat - manāḥ — always thinking of Me bhava — become mat — My bhaktaḥ — devotee mat — My yājī — worshiper mām — unto Me namas - kuru — offer obeisances mām — unto Me eva — completely eṣyasi — you will come yuktvā — being absorbed evam — thus ātmānam — your soul mat - parāyaṇaḥ — devoted to Me .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mat - manāḥ
always thinking of Me
bhava
become
mat
My
bhaktaḥ
devotee
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mat
My
yājī
worshiper
mām
unto Me
namas - kuru
offer obeisances
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
mām
unto Me
eva
completely
eṣyasi
you will come
yuktvā
being absorbed
evam
thus
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ
ātmānam
your soul
mat - parāyaṇaḥ
devoted to Me .
Important Words
  • mat - manāḥ — with mind on Me
    Mat (Me) + manas (mind). The mind is the first string to be tuned. Bhava — be that. The imperative is total: not 'have your mind sometimes on Me,' but 'be a mat-manāḥ person.' A change of identity, not just attention.
  • bhaktaḥ — devotee
    Devotee, sharer. Paired with mat (Me) earlier in the verse: mat-bhaktaḥ. Heart-string. The mind tuned without the heart's devotion is bare information; bhakta names the second necessary string.
  • yājī — worshipper
    From √yaj — worshipper, sacrificer. Paired in this verse with mat: mat-yājī. Action-string. The mind and heart are inner; yājī externalizes the orientation into ritual and offering. The whole 9.27 yat-karoṣi rule condensed.
  • namas - kuru — offer obeisances
    Namas (bowing) + kuru (do). Body-string. The fourth and most physical — bend the body to Mām (Me). Bhakti expresses itself through the prostration, which trains every organ at once.
  • yuktvā — having yoked
    Absolutive of √yuj — having joined. The four strings yoked to one tuning peg. This is what makes the bhakti integrated rather than fragmentary — the ātman yoked, not just engaged piecemeal.
  • ātmānam — the self
    Accusative of ātman — the self yoked. Direct object of yuktvā: 'having yoked the self.' The entire person, not a faculty or moment, is what gets joined.
  • mat - parāyaṇaḥ — fully dedicated to Me
    Mat + parāyaṇa (final shelter, ultimate refuge). The strongest possible compound for orientation: not just devoted but parāyaṇa — the final and only refuge. The chapter that began with rāja-vidyā ends with mat-parāyaṇa — same teaching from two directions.
  • eṣyasi — you will come
    Future tense, second singular, of ā + √i — you will come. Paired with mām (to Me) and eva (surely) in this verse: mām eva eṣyasi. The verse — and the chapter — closes on a promise as personal as the address: 'to Me, surely, you will come.'
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.
Purport

In this verse it is clearly indicated that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the only means of being delivered from the clutches of this contaminated material world. Sometimes unscrupulous commentators distort the meaning of what is clearly stated here: that all devotional service should be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, unscrupulous commentators divert the mind of the reader to that which is not at all feasible. Such commentators do not know that there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa’s mind and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not an ordinary human being; He is Absolute Truth. His body, His mind and He Himself are one and absolute. It is stated in the Kūrma Purāṇa, as it is quoted by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī in his Anubhāṣya comments on Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Fifth Chapter, Ādi-līlā, verses 41–48), deha-dehi-vibhedo ’yaṁ neśvare vidyate kvacit. This means that there is no difference in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, between Himself and His body. But because the commentators do not know this science of Kṛṣṇa, they hide Kṛṣṇa and divide His personality from His mind or from His body. Although this is sheer ignorance of the science of Kṛṣṇa, some men make profit out of misleading people. There are some who are demonic; they also think of Kṛṣṇa, but enviously, just like King Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa’s uncle. He was also thinking of Kṛṣṇa always, but he thought of Kṛṣṇa as his enemy. He was always in anxiety, wondering when Kṛṣṇa would come to kill him. That kind of thinking will not help us. One should be thinking of Kṛṣṇa in devotional love. That is bhakti. One should cultivate the knowledge of Kṛṣṇa continuously. What is that favorable cultivation? It is to learn from a bona fide teacher. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we have several times explained that His body is not material, but is eternal, blissful knowledge. This kind of talk about Kṛṣṇa will help one become a devotee. Understanding Kṛṣṇa otherwise, from the wrong source, will prove fruitless. One should therefore engage his mind in the eternal form, the primal form of Kṛṣṇa; with conviction in his heart that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme, he should engage himself in worship. There are hundreds of thousands of temples in India for the worship of Kṛṣṇa, and devotional service is practiced there. When such practice is made, one has to offer obeisances to Kṛṣṇa. One should lower his head before the Deity and engage his mind, his body, his activities – everything. That will make one fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa without deviation. This will help one transfer to Kṛṣṇaloka. One should not be deviated by unscrupulous commentators. One must engage in the nine different processes of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa. Pure devotional service is the highest achievement of human society. The Seventh and Eighth chapters of Bhagavad-gītā have explained pure devotional service to the Lord that is free from speculative knowledge, mystic yoga and fruitive activities. Those who are not purely sanctified may be attracted by different features of the Lord like the impersonal brahma-jyotir and localized Paramātmā, but a pure devotee directly takes to the service of the Supreme Lord. There is a beautiful poem about Kṛṣṇa in which it is clearly stated that any person who is engaged in the worship of demigods is most unintelligent and cannot achieve at any time the supreme award of Kṛṣṇa. The devotee, in the beginning, may sometimes fall from the standard, but still he should be considered superior to all other philosophers and yogīs. One who always engages in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be understood to be a perfectly saintly person. His accidental nondevotional activities will diminish, and he will soon be situated without any doubt in complete perfection. The pure devotee has no actual chance to fall down, because the Supreme Godhead personally takes care of His pure devotees. Therefore, the intelligent person should take directly to the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and happily live in this material world. He will eventually receive the supreme award of Kṛṣṇa. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Ninth Chapter of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of the Most Confidential Knowledge.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
34. Concentrate your mind on Me. Be My devotee. Worship Me. Offer respects to Me. Having absorbed your body and mind in Me, surrendering to Me, you will come to Me.
Commentary

In this verse the Lord concludes by describing the method of worship. Therefore, having absorbed your body and mind in Me (ātmānaṁ yukta), you will certainly come to Me. That supreme position of pure bhakti, the topmost secret, which does not discriminate between who is qualified or unqualified, and by its contact purifies all persons, has been described in this chapter. Here ends the commentaries on the ninth chapter of the Gītā for the pleasure of the devotees’ minds, by the mercy of the ācāryas.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
34. Concentrate your mind on Me. Be My devotee. Worship Me. Offer respects to Me. Having absorbed your body and mind in Me, taking shelter only of Me, you will come to Me.
Commentary

In this verse the Lord concludes by teaching the most desirable, pure bhakti to Arjuna, who was a pariniṣṭhita bhakta. [Note: The same verse is used at the end of the Gīta to illustrate the nirapekṣa devotee.] The person devoted to the king, the king’ṣ servant, because he thinks of his wife and other things, though he thinks of the king also, does not become a real devotee of the king, completely identifying with the king’s needs. But you should not be like that. You should be My devotee who thinks of Me at all times (man manā mad bhaktaḥ). Have your mind like an unbroken stream of honey constantly absorbed in Me, the son of Vasudeva, possessing qualities such as a complexion like a blue lotus, through understanding My lordship over you and My bestowal of the highest benefit to you. Then, be My worshipper, be absorbed in worshipping My form, the most dear object. Offer your respects to My form with intense prema. Having offered your mind and body (ātmānam yuktvā) to Me, taking shelter only of Me (mat parāyaṇaḥ), you will come to Me. By this statement it is understood that after offering these activities of bhakti to the Lord, one performs them. In this chapter, bhakti, like the Gaṅga, not considering who is suitable or unsuitable, and destroying all sins by its very touch, is alone considered to be the king of all secrets. Chapter 10

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

The first thing one should do is, not just work, work, and work for Krsna, but engage one's mind in always thinking of Krsna (man‑mana bhava mad‑bhakto) and become His devotee. Baladeva Vidyabhusana says: "the mind should be fixed on Krsna uninterruptedly like honey flows from a bottle." Srila Prabhupada explains in his Purport: "There is a beautiful poem about Krsna in which it is clearly stated that any person who is engaged in the worship of demigods is most unintelligent and cannot achieve at any time the supreme award of Krsna. The devotee, in the beginning, may sometimes fall from the standard, but still he should be considered superior t other philosophers and yogis. One who always engages in Krsna consciousness should be understood to be a perfectly sa person. His accidental nondevotional activities will diminish, and he will soon be situated without any doubt in complete perfection. The pure devotee has no actual chance to fall down, because the Supreme Godhead personally takes care of His pure devotees. Therefore, the intelligent person should take directly to the process of Krsna consciousness and happily live in this material world. He will eventually receive the supreme award of Krsna." This verse is the essence of all confidential knowledge. It is exactly in the middle of the Bhagavad‑gita. This is the 'most confidential knowledge.'

THUS ENDS THE STUDY OF CHAPTER NINE.

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

Worship Krishna directly – This verse points out clearly that “Krishna consciousness is the only means

for deliverance from material world.”

How to worship Krishna directly
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me
Become My devotee
Offer obeisances to Me
Worship Me
END OF CHAPTER 9 
Focus of Learning

(a) How to engage one’s mind

Engage in His eternal form, the primal form of Krishna
With conviction that Krishna is the Supreme
Engage body, mind and activities in His service without deviation – Nine activities
Benefit: Transfer to Krishna-loka

(b) Srila Prabhupada refutes unscrupulous commentators

Unscrupulous commentators defined
Make profit and mislead: Make profit out of misleading people. Divert their mind to that which is not at all feasible
They refer to Krishna’s mind: They do not know that there is no difference between Krishna’s mind and Krishna
Our Response is:
Krishna is not an ordinary human but Absolute (Body, Mind and Himself are Absolute One)
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati quotes from Caitanya Charitamrta: “No difference between Krishna and His body”

(c) Demoniac Mentality – They do think of Krishna but always unfavourably and enviously e.g. Kamsa

(d) Real bhakti defined based on correct understanding

One should “Think of Krishna as a person”
Favourably in devotional love
Cultivate knowledge of Krishna continuously
What is that favourable cultivation – Learn from bona-fide spiritual master
What are the bona-fide teachings of such a Spiritual Master – Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His body is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge and we are His eternal servants

Bhagavad Gita Notes

CHAPTER 9 Appendix

Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”

Introduction

Chapter Seven and Chapter Nine share various themes: hearing from Kṛṣṇa (7.1-2 / 9.1-2); the rela-

tionship between Kṛṣṇa and material nature (7.4-7, 7.12 / 9.4-10); Kṛṣṇa’s potency manifested

within matter (7.8-11 / 9.16-19); worship of demigods contrasted with worship of Kṛṣṇa (7.20-23 /

9.20-28); and the impersonalists’ knowledge of Kṛṣṇa contrasted with that of devotees (7.24-26 /

9.11-15)

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
9.34 Manmana bhava, have your mind fixed on Me; [Here Ast. adds the word vasudeva.-Tr] and also be madbhakah, devoted to Me. Madyaji, sacrifice to Me, be engaged in sacrificing to Me. And namaskuru, bow down; only mam, to Me. Yuktva, by concentrating your mind; and mat-parayanah, by accepting Me as the supreme Goal; esyasi eva, you shall surely attain; mam, Me who am God. You shall attain Me evam atmanam, who am thus the Self: I indeed am the Self of all the beings, and am also the supreme Goal. You shall attain Me who am such. In this way, the word atmanam (Self) is to be connected with the preceding word mam (Me). This is the purport.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
9.34 Focus your mind on Me; fix your mind on Me uninterruptedly like a continous stream of oil - on Me the Ruler of rulers, antagonistic to all that is evil, the sole abode of auspiciousness, omniscient, whose resolve is always true, the sole cause of the entire universe, the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Person; on Me, of long large eyes like a lotus petal; who has the complexion of a clear blue cloud; whose shining lustre is like that of a thousand suns simultaneously risen; on Me, the great ocean of the nectar of beauty; of four arms, noble and strong, and of brilliant yellow raiment; on Me, adorned with a pure crown, fish-shaped ear-rings, garlands, bracelet on the arms and bangles at the wrist; on Me, the ocean of infinite mercy, affability, beauty, sweetness, majesty, magnanimity and parental affection; on Me, the refuge of all without exception and without regard to their differences; on Me the Lord of all. Sri Krsna again makes the same clear. Be My devotee. Be one whose mind is focussed on Me by contemplating on Me as exceedingly dear. Such is the meaning. He makes thie yet clearer. Be My worshipper, namely, become engaged in My worship, which you have begun to practise by your experience of Me as supremely dear and unlimited and unsurpassed. What is called worship is the conduct of one who realises that he is absolutely a subsidiary - (Sesa) of God. Worship consists also in offering all things of enjoyment such as waving of lights etc., all those things which come into bodily contact like garlands, sandal paste etc., and those meant for offering like food preparations and other edibles. The meaning is this: Let your mind be focussed on Me so as to be engaged in My worship, resulting from love which is unlimited and unsurpassed and which is born from the experience of Myself. Again Sri Krsna expounds the same: Bow down to Me. Do not be satisfied only with services of one who is absolutely subsidiary to me. Do services which are incomparably dear and animated by an experience of Myself who is dear and unlimited and unsurpassed. Also bow down to Me in utter humility, regarding Me as the supreme goal, i.e., He who is the supreme abode and the supreme goal. The meaning is that having resorted to Me, it is impossible for you to live without Me. Having disciplined the mind in this way and considering Me as the supreme goal, you will thus, through love which is unsurpassed and incomparable, obtain a mind which is fit for experiencing Me. You will then reach Me alone. Here the term Atman stands for the mind. The import is that, holding Me as the sole support, possesing a mind of this kind, meditating on Me, experiencing Me, worshipping Me and bowing down to Me - you will reach Me alone. Thus, with such a turn of mind you carry on, for pleasing Me alone, your secular works for bodily sustenance and Vedic activities like obligatory and occasional rites, regarding them as actuated by Me and finding sole joy in absolute subservience to Me. You shall ever engage yourself in praising My names with love and in endeavouring to serve Me and bowing down to Me etc. You shall contemplate on the entire universe as being under My rule and being subsidiary (Sesa) to Me. Contemplating on the multitudes of My attributes, which are exceedingly dear to you, and practising every day this worship as described, you will reach Me alone.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
9.32-34 Man hi etc; upto Matparayanah. Those who are of sinful birth : I.e., the animals, birds, reptiles etc. Women denotes the ignorant. Men of working class denotes those who find pleasure in different vocations, like agriculture etc. Men of the fourth caste : those who do not have any claim whatsoever for [performing] the Vedic rituals and whose livelihood depend on others. By taking refuge [solely] in Me, even these all attain Me alone. The deeds of the exceedingly compassionate Bhagavat, like the one granting liberation to a chief of the elephants are heard in thousands [in the Puranas]. Certainly it must be so, for those whose behaviour is just the opposite to that of these persons. Some (commentators] declare : The present sentence [of the Lord] intends to glorify the twice-born and members of the ruling class, and it is not uttered with the intention of speaking of the attainment of liberation in the case of the women etc. Indeed these persons [aim to] break into pieces the Graceous-to-all Power of the Bhagavat by foistering upon It, a limited applicability; likwise they do not tolerate the profoundly compassionate nature of the Absolute Lord; they contradict the [Lord's own] statements 'To Me none is hateful and none is dear (IX, 30)', 'Even a highly evil-doer etc. (IX, 31)', and other similar statements, very clearly of the same import; with all effort they [strive to] bring in something indicative of duality even in the Absolute-being, Whose non-dual nature has been well established firmly by the diversity of the best reasonings; they are not mindful of other contradictions [that lurk in their theory] with the revealed literature; when simply estioned 'How is this ?' and 'How is that ?', these persons, having their internal organ totally possessed by the mighty devil of the caste [considerations], concealed within, and having their tongue, face and eyes all twisted by their sense of jealously, hypocrisy and shame-they prattle evil for the entire humanity; and thus they put upon themselves the status of being an object of ridicule. Therefore the above explanation [of ours] does good to all.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
9.34 Fix thy mind on Me; by devoted to Me; sacrifice unto Me; bow down to Me; having thus united thy whole self to Me, taking Me as the supreme goal, thou shalt come unto Me.
Commentary

9.34 मन्मनाः with mind filled with Me? भव be thou? मद्भक्तः My devotee? मद्याजी sacrificing unto Me? माम्,unto Me? नमस्कुरु bow down? माम् to Me? एव alone? एष्यसि thou shalt come? युक्त्वा having united? एवम् thus? आत्मानम् the self? मत्परायणः taking Me as the Supreme Goal.Commentary Fill thy mind with Me. Fix your head? heart and hands on Me. Get your heart in tune with Me. Become a true worshipper. You will secure eternal bliss. Having known Me? you will cross beyond death.The whole being of man should be surrendered to the Lord without reservation. Then the whole life will undergo a wonderful transformation. You will have the vision of God everywhere. All sorrows and pains will vanish. Your mind will be one with the divine consciousness.Just as the potether becomes one with the universal ether when the limiting adjunct (pot) is broken? just as the Ganga and the Yamuna? leaving their names and forms become one with the ocean? so also the sage gets rid of Avidya and all sorts of limiting adjuncts through the direct realisation of the Self and becomes identical with Para Brahman.Yukta means steadied in thought? having thus fixed the mind on the Lord? knowing that I am the Self of all beings and the highest goal. (Cf.V.17VII.7?14XVIII.65)(This chapter is known by the name Adhyatma Yoga also.)Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita? the science of the Eternal? the scripture of Yoga? the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna? ends the ninth discourse entitledThe Yoga of the Kingly Science and the Kingly Secret.,

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
9.34 Having your mind fixed on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, and bow down to Me. By concentrating your mind and accepting Me as the supreme Goal, you shall surely attain Me who am thus the Self.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
9.34 Fix thy mind on Me, devote thyself to Me, sacrifice for Me, surrender to Me, make Me the object of thy aspirations, and thou shalt assuredly become one with Me, Who am thine own Self."
Related values & verses
Primary values
Bhakti (Devotion)
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)
Related verses
BG 18.65 BG 8.7 BG 12.8 SB 11.14.23 SB 2.1.6 SB 7.5.23 CC Madhya 22.128 CC Madhya 25.130 CC Ādi 1.49 Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23BRS 1.2.2
Concepts
Bhava
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer respect to Me — being absorbed in Me, you will surely come to Me.
Practical Applications
  • Adopt the four explicit practices: think, devote, worship, respect.
  • Treat them as the operating manual for the chapter.
  • Trust the 'surely come to Me' guarantee.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of the four is least cultivated?
  • What would 'surely' look like as a settled trust?
Analogy

A four-stringed instrument tuned to one note: mind, devotion, offering, obeisance — all four strings strung tight to Kṛṣṇa, and the bow drawn across once. The whole chapter has been the tuning. The last verse is the bow-stroke. Mat-manāḥ bhava: mind, on Me. Mat-bhaktaḥ: heart, on Me. Mat-yājī: offerings, to Me. Mām namas-kuru: body, prostrating to Me. Strings aligned, one chord sounds — and the chord is the soul arriving at Kṛṣṇa.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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