A devotional verse · devotional in mood · a little context helps
“Total orientation toward the divine becomes the way to reach the divine.”
Fix your mind on me. Be devoted to me. Worship me. Bow to me. United with me in this way, and fully oriented toward me, you will come to me.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallymind on me · become · my devotee · my worshipper · to me · bow · me · only · you will come · having united · thus · yourself · with me as your highest goal
Krishna asks Arjuna to place his mind, devotion, worship, and respect entirely on him. He promises that this full orientation will lead Arjuna to him.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga" (The Royal Knowledge).
Verse 34 sits in Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita — Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, "The Royal Knowledge". The chapter has 34 verses in total.
A daughter caring for her father splits her mind between his medicines, her job and her guilt. Krishna's instruction is to gather thought, devotion and action toward one centre, so the caring itself becomes worship.
Did you like this verse?
Mind, devotion, worship, bowing: Krishna closes chapter nine by asking Arjuna to point all four at him.
What this verse means
Krishna asks Arjuna to place his mind, devotion, worship, and respect entirely on him. He promises that this full orientation will lead Arjuna to him.
Context & commentary
Krishna gives the closing note of his teaching on divine presence while Arjuna still stands frozen. After showing that even the unlikely and excluded can reach the highest state, Krishna now gives the direct practice: orient everything toward him.
What it looks like today
A daughter caring for her father splits her mind between his medicines, her job and her guilt. Krishna's instruction is to gather thought, devotion and action toward one centre, so the caring itself becomes worship.
“Devotion is not passive feeling; it becomes a complete direction for the mind and life.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), surrender (23 verses)