O Pandava, the devotee who works for Me alone, takes Me as the highest goal, is devoted to Me, is free from attachment, and bears no enmity toward any being, comes to Me.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.55
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पाण्डवन जो मेरे लिये ही कर्म करनेवाला, मेरे ही परायण और मेरा ही भक्त है तथा सर्वथा आसक्तिरहित और प्राणिमात्रके साथ निर्वैर है, वह भक्त मेरेको प्राप्त होता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
मत्कर्मकृत्doing action for Meमत्परमःhaving Me as the highestमद्भक्तःMy devoteeसङ्गवर्जितःfree from attachmentनिर्वैरःwithout hostilityसर्वभूतेषुtoward all beingsयःwhoसःthat oneमाम्Meएतिcomesपाण्डवO Pandava
Read literallydoing action for Me · having Me as the highest · My devotee · free from attachment · without hostility · toward all beings · who · that one · Me · comes · O Pandava
Understanding the verse
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Krishna's devotee works for him, holds him highest, drops attachment, and bears no enmity toward any being.
The one who serves Krishna with full devotion, without attachment or hostility toward any being, reaches him.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has already seen Krishna's cosmic form and heard that devotion is the way to know him fully. Now Krishna gives the final shape of that devotion: act for him, hold him as the highest, free yourself from attachment, and drop hostility toward all beings.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A farmer who works his field as an offering, holds no grudge against the neighbour who blocked his water channel, and does not cling to the harvest price fits Krishna's picture of the devotee here.
The takeaway
“Devotion becomes complete when love is steady, desire is loose, and the heart stops making enemies.”
The one who serves Krishna with full devotion, without attachment or hostility toward any being, reaches him.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.55?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.55?
Verse 55 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.55 matter today?
A farmer who works his field as an offering, holds no grudge against the neighbour who blocked his water channel, and does not cling to the harvest price fits Krishna's picture of the devotee here.
Krishna's devotee works for him, holds him highest, drops attachment, and bears no enmity toward any being.
What this verse means
The one who serves Krishna with full devotion, without attachment or hostility toward any being, reaches him.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has already seen Krishna's cosmic form and heard that devotion is the way to know him fully. Now Krishna gives the final shape of that devotion: act for him, hold him as the highest, free yourself from attachment, and drop hostility toward all beings.
What it looks like today
A farmer who works his field as an offering, holds no grudge against the neighbour who blocked his water channel, and does not cling to the harvest price fits Krishna's picture of the devotee here.
“Devotion becomes complete when love is steady, desire is loose, and the heart stops making enemies.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses)