Others offer wealth, austerity, yoga, and the study of sacred texts as sacrifice, while disciplined seekers make these offerings with firm vows.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.28
Hindi · हिन्दी
दूसरे कितने ही तीक्ष्ण व्रत करनेवाले प्रयत्नशील साधक द्रव्यसम्बन्धी यज्ञ करनेवाले हैं, और कितने ही तपोयज्ञ करनेवाले हैं, और दूसरे कितने ही योगयज्ञ करनेवाले हैं, तथा कितने ही स्वाध्यायरूप ज्ञानयज्ञ करनेवाले हैं ॥
Different seekers turn different things into an offering: wealth, austerity, yoga practice, and study. All of them are disciplined forms of sacrifice.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
With Arjuna still frozen, Krishna keeps widening his view of action. After describing sensory restraint and inner discipline, Krishna now names others who turn wealth, austerity, yoga practice, and self-study into offerings.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A shopkeeper sets aside a fixed share of each month's takings for the temple kitchen and never skips it. Krishna counts that steady giving of wealth as sacrifice, alongside fasting, yoga and study.
The takeaway
“Money, effort, practice and study can all be offered as worship.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga(55 verses), yajna(32 verses), tapas(22 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.28 mean?
Different seekers turn different things into an offering: wealth, austerity, yoga practice, and study. All of them are disciplined forms of sacrifice.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.28?
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 4.28?
Verse 28 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 4.28 matter today?
A shopkeeper sets aside a fixed share of each month's takings for the temple kitchen and never skips it. Krishna counts that steady giving of wealth as sacrifice, alongside fasting, yoga and study.
Wealth, austerity, yoga and study of the Vedas can each become a sacrifice when done under firm vows.
What this verse means
Different seekers turn different things into an offering: wealth, austerity, yoga practice, and study. All of them are disciplined forms of sacrifice.
Context & commentary
With Arjuna still frozen, Krishna keeps widening his view of action. After describing sensory restraint and inner discipline, Krishna now names others who turn wealth, austerity, yoga practice, and self-study into offerings.
What it looks like today
A shopkeeper sets aside a fixed share of each month's takings for the temple kitchen and never skips it. Krishna counts that steady giving of wealth as sacrifice, alongside fasting, yoga and study.
“Money, effort, practice and study can all be offered as worship.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses), tapas (22 verses)