In such sacrifice, the offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, and the act of offering into the fire of Brahman is Brahman. One whose action is absorbed in Brahman reaches Brahman alone.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिस यज्ञमें अर्पण भी ब्रह्म है, हवी भी ब्रह्म है और ब्रह्मरूप कर्ताके द्वारा ब्रह्मरूप अग्निमें आहुति देनारूप क्रिया भी ब्रह्म है, ऐसे यज्ञको करनेवाले जिस मनुष्यकी ब्रह्ममें ही कर्मसमाधि हो गयी है, उसके द्वारा प्राप्त करनेयोग्य फल भी ब्रह्म ही है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
ब्रह्मार्पणंBrahman as the offeringब्रह्महविःBrahman as the oblationब्रह्माग्नौin the fire of Brahmanब्रह्मणाby Brahmanहुतम्offeredब्रह्मBrahmanएवindeedतेनby that oneगन्तव्यम्to be reachedब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिनाby one whose action is absorbed in Brahman
Read literallyBrahman as the offering · Brahman as the oblation · in the fire of Brahman · by Brahman · offered · Brahman · indeed · by that one · to be reached · by one whose action is absorbed in Brahman
Understanding the verse
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Brahman is the offering, the ladle, the fire and the one who offers, in Krishna's famous line on sacrifice.
When action is fully understood, the giver, the offering, the fire, and the result all belong to the same ultimate reality.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna speaks on the battlefield to Arjuna, who has frozen before the war. After explaining action without attachment, he now shows the deepest form of sacrifice: even the offering, the fire, and the one who acts are all rooted in Brahman.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Many Indian households recite this line as a grace before meals. Said while serving dal and rice, it lets you see the cook, the food and the person eating as part of one reality.
The takeaway
“Giver, gift, fire and result all belong to one reality.”
Explore related themes: yajna(32 verses), brahman(10 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.24 mean?
When action is fully understood, the giver, the offering, the fire, and the result all belong to the same ultimate reality.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.24?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 4.24?
Verse 24 sits in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "Knowledge and Renunciation of Action". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 4.24 matter today?
Many Indian households recite this line as a grace before meals. Said while serving dal and rice, it lets you see the cook, the food and the person eating as part of one reality.
Brahman is the offering, the ladle, the fire and the one who offers, in Krishna's famous line on sacrifice.
What this verse means
When action is fully understood, the giver, the offering, the fire, and the result all belong to the same ultimate reality.
Context & commentary
Krishna speaks on the battlefield to Arjuna, who has frozen before the war. After explaining action without attachment, he now shows the deepest form of sacrifice: even the offering, the fire, and the one who acts are all rooted in Brahman.
What it looks like today
Many Indian households recite this line as a grace before meals. Said while serving dal and rice, it lets you see the cook, the food and the person eating as part of one reality.
“Giver, gift, fire and result all belong to one reality.”
Explore related themes: yajna (32 verses), brahman (10 verses)