Bhagavad Gita on bhakti: 7 verses on love and devotion
For when you want to feel close to Krishna. Read one a day, or all seven at your altar.
- 7 verses
- Gita, then the Ramcharitmanas
- About 14 min to read
- Sanskrit, English, audio
Bhakti is the warmest thread in the Gita. Krishna says people come to him in distress, in curiosity, in need or in wisdom, and all four are welcome (7.16). These verses walk through his promises: he lives in those who love him (9.29), he lifts them out of the drowning sea (12.7), he gives them the understanding to reach him (10.10). Then they turn to practice: offer everything (9.27), and keep your mind on him, because you are dear to him (18.65). The last is from the Ramcharitmanas, Ram at Shabari's door.
The seven verses
- Verse 1See itEvery reason is welcomeGita 7.16
- Verse 2What's underneathHe lives in those who love himGita 9.29
- Verse 3SteadyLifted out of the seaGita 12.7
- Verse 4SteadyHe gives the understandingGita 10.10
- Verse 5DoMake everything an offeringGita 9.27
- Verse 6DoYou are dear to meGita 18.65
- Verse 7A storyRam at Shabari's doorRamcharitmanas
Every reason is welcome
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥
People turn to the divine in distress, in curiosity, in need, or in wisdom. All four are welcome.
Bhagavad Gita 7.16 · Krishna
Full translation
Four kinds of virtuous people worship Me, Arjuna: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the wise one, O best of the Bharatas.
हे भरतवंशियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनव पवित्र कर्म करनेवाले अर्थार्थी, आर्त, जिज्ञासु और ज्ञानी अर्थात् प्रेमी ये चार प्रकारके मनुष्य मेरा भजन करते हैं अर्थात् मेरे शरण होते हैं ॥
What it means for you
You may come to Krishna because something hurts, because you're curious, because you need something, or because you understand. Krishna calls all four sukṛtinaḥ, good people. Whatever brought you here counts.
Try this
Name, honestly, which of the four brings you here today.
He lives in those who love him
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥
I am the same towards all; no one is hated, no one favoured. Those who love me live in me.
Bhagavad Gita 9.29 · Krishna
Full translation
I am equal toward all beings. No one is hated by me, and no one is especially dear. But those who worship me with devotion dwell in me, and I dwell in them.
मैं सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें समान हूँ । उन प्राणियोंमें न तो कोई मेरा द्वेषी है और न कोई प्रिय है । परन्तु जो भक्तिपूर्वक मेरा भजन करते हैं, वे मेरेमें हैं और मैं उनमें हूँ ॥
What it means for you
Krishna holds no favourites and no grudges. Love is the one thing that changes the relationship: those who love him live in him, and he in them.
Try this
Spend two quiet minutes today simply thinking of Krishna, asking for nothing.
Lifted out of the sea
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥
Whoever rests their heart in me, I lift out of the drowning sea, and soon.
Bhagavad Gita 12.7 · Krishna
Full translation
I quickly become the one who lifts those whose minds are fixed on me from the ocean of mortal existence, O Partha.
हे पार्थ मेरेमें आविष्ट चित्तवाले उन भक्तोंका मैं मृत्युरूप संसारसमुद्रसे शीघ्र ही उद्धार करनेवाला बन जाता हूँ ॥
What it means for you
Krishna's promise here is personal and quick: acirāt, soon. Whoever rests their heart in him, he lifts out of the sea of birth and death. Devotion in the Gita comes with being held.
Try this
When something worries you today, say his name once and breathe out.
He gives the understanding
ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ॥
To those who keep loving me, I give the clarity that brings them to me.
Bhagavad Gita 10.10 · Krishna
Full translation
To those who are always devoted and worship Me with love, I give the discernment that leads them to Me.
उन नित्यनिरन्तर मेरेमें लगे हुए और प्रेमपूर्वक मेरा भजन करनेवाले भक्तोंको मैं वह बुद्धियोग देता हूँ, जिससे उनको मेरी प्राप्ति हो जाती है ॥
What it means for you
Krishna says he himself gives buddhi-yoga, the right understanding, to those who stay devoted. You don't have to work out the whole path alone. Keep loving, and the clarity comes.
Try this
Read one verse of the Gita slowly today, and sit with it before moving on.
Make everything an offering
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥
Whatever you do, eat, give or endure, do it as an offering.
Bhagavad Gita 9.27 · Krishna
Full translation
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer, whatever you give, and whatever austerity you practice, offer it to me.
हे कुन्तीपुत्र तू जो कुछ करता है, जो कुछ खाता है, जो कुछ यज्ञ करता है, जो कुछ दान देता है और जो कुछ तप करता है, वह सब मेरे अर्पण कर दे ॥
What it means for you
Krishna widens bhakti to cover the whole day: work, meals, gifts, hardships. Each can be offered to him. Your ordinary day becomes the worship.
Try this
Before one routine task today, offer it to Krishna in a single sentence.
You are dear to me
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ॥
Mind on me, heart devoted to me, you will come to me. I promise: you are dear to me.
Bhagavad Gita 18.65 · Krishna
Full translation
Fix your mind on me, become my devotee, worship me, and bow to me. You will come to me; I promise you this truly, because you are dear to me.
तू मेरा भक्त हो जा, मेरेमें मनवाला हो जा, मेरा पूजन करनेवाला हो जा और मेरेको नमस्कार कर । ऐसा करनेसे तू मेरेको ही प्राप्त हो जायगा यह मैं तेरे सामने सत्य प्रतिज्ञा करता हूँ क्योंकि तू मेरा अत्यन्त प्रिय है ॥
What it means for you
Near the end of the Gita, Krishna makes a promise to Arjuna and calls it true: priyo 'si me, you are dear to me. Devotion runs both ways. He loves you back.
Try this
Light a lamp or sit at your altar today, and read this verse aloud.
Ram at Shabari's door
सपनेहुँ नहिं देखइ परदोषा ॥
Be content with what comes, and don't go looking for faults in others, not even in your dreams.
Ramcharitmanas, Aranya Kand
Ram visits Shabari
Shabari was an old forest woman who had waited for Ram for years. When he finally came, she washed his feet and fed him the roots and fruit she had gathered, and he praised every bite. Then Ram told her he recognised only one bond, the bond of devotion, and described nine forms of it. The eighth was being content with what comes and never looking for faults in others.
What counts is the heart you bring.
What it means for you
Shabari had no learning or status to offer, only years of waiting and a basket of fruit. Ram said that was enough.
Try this
Offer one simple thing to Krishna today, a flower, a fruit or a little water.
That's all seven.
Come back to the one that stayed with you. Or let Wisdom pick seven verses for your own situation, with the Sanskrit read aloud.
Common questions
What does the Bhagavad Gita say about devotion?
Chapters 9 and 12 are the heart of bhakti in the Gita. Krishna says those who love him live in him (9.29), that he lifts them out of the sea of death (12.7), and in 18.65 he promises Arjuna that he is dear to him.
Which Gita verse is about offering everything to God?
9.27: whatever you do, eat, offer, give or endure, do it as an offering to me. 9.26 adds that a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with love is accepted.
What are the nine forms of devotion Ram describes?
In the Ramcharitmanas, Ram tells Shabari of navadhā bhakti, nine forms: good company, love for his stories, serving the teacher, singing his praise, chanting his name, self-restraint, seeing him in everything, contentment without fault-finding, and simplicity.
Should I read one verse a day or all seven at once?
Either works. All seven take about 14 minutes. One a day gives each verse time to settle, and the page remembers where you stopped.
