Gita 9.26
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति |
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: || 26||
patraṁ puṣhpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayachchhati
tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛitam aśhnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
In this verse, Shree Krishna emphasizes the simplicity and accessibility of worshipping the Supreme Being. Unlike the intricate rules associated with worshipping devatās and ancestors, God accepts any offering made with a loving heart, regardless of its material value. Whether it's a fruit, flower, leaf, or even water, what truly pleases God is the devotion and sincerity behind the offering. The essence of worship lies in bhakti (devotion), as highlighted by the verses from the Bhagavad Gita and the Shreemad Bhagavatam, which underscore that God cherishes offerings made with pure love.
The Hari Bhakti Vilas states:
tulasī-dala-mātreṇa jalasya chulukena cha
vikrīṇīte svam ātmānaṁ bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ
(11.261)
“If you offer God with sincere love, just a Tulsī leaf and as much water as you can hold in your palm, He will offer Himself to you in return because He is endeared by love.”
The Shreemad Bhagavatam states :
patraṁ puṣhpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayachchhati
tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛitam aśhnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
(10.81.4)
“If one offers Me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully partake of that article offered with love by My devotee in pure consciousness.”
An illustrative example of this principle is found in the divine pastime involving Sudama and Vidurani.
Shree Krishna happily accepted the dry rice that was offered by Sudama, His childhood friend.
Despite Duryodhan offering a lavish meal of fifty-six dishes to Krishna, He chose to accept the simple offerings from Vidurani, who, in her heartfelt devotion, offered Him bananas. Overwhelmed with love, she accidentally fed him banana peels, which Krishna happily accepted, demonstrating that the devotion behind the offering is what truly matters. Thus, the passage beautifully conveys that God's acceptance is rooted in love rather than material wealth or grandeur.
Gita 9.27
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् |
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् || 27||
yat karoṣhi yad aśhnāsi yaj juhoṣhi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣhva mad-arpaṇam
In this verse, the essence of devotion (bhakti) is explored in the context of daily life, emphasizing the importance of offering not only material objects but also actions to the Supreme Lord. This holistic approach to devotion suggests that every act, whether it involves fulfilling social duties, consuming food, performing rituals, or observing vows, should be mentally committed to God.
The key message is that devotion shouldn't be viewed as a compartmentalized activity performed only in temples; rather, it should be a continuous practice infused into every moment of life.
Sage Narad encapsulates this idea by defining bhakti as the act of dedicating all activities to God and experiencing a profound sense of separation from Him when one forgets to remember Him.
nāradastu tadarpitā khilāchāratā tadvismaraṇe paramavyākulateti
(Nārad Bhakti Darśhan, Sūtra 19)
The concept of "arpaṇam," or offering one's actions mentally to the Divine, serves to transform ordinary, everyday work into a form of divine service. This perspective aligns with the teachings of notable figures like Swami Vivekananda and Saint Kabir, who underscore that all work is inherently sacred and can be seen as an act of devotion.
In summary, this verse illustrates that true devotion is about integrating spiritual awareness into all aspects of life, seeing every action as an opportunity to serve and connect with the Divine, rather than isolating spiritual practice to specific religious contexts.
Saint Kabir stated this in his couplet:
jahañ jahañ chalūñ karūñ parikramā, jo jo karūñ so sevā
jaba sovūñ karūñ daṇḍavat, jānūñ deva na dūjā
In this excerpt, the teachings of Saint Kabir highlight the importance of seeing all actions as acts of devotion to God. He expresses that wherever he goes, he perceives it as a circumambulation of the Divine, and whatever he does, he considers it service to God. Even in the act of sleeping, he maintains a meditative state of offering obeisance to the Divine, thus remaining connected to God in all aspects of life.
kāyena vāchā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vānusṛita-svabhāvāt
karoti yad yat sakalaṁ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayet tat
(Bhagavatam 11.2.36)
The above verse from the Bhagavatam, emphasizes that everything—be it actions performed by the body, speech, mind, senses, or intellect—should be offered to the Supreme Lord Narayan. This offering, however, is not merely a ritualistic act to be done at the end of tasks or through the recitation of mantras. Instead, it advocates for a mindset of devotion during the very act of performing one's duties.
The essence of this message is that true devotion arises from the conscious awareness that all actions are performed for the pleasure of the Divine, rather than viewing spirituality as a separate or isolated endeavor. By integrating this mindfulness into daily life, individuals cultivate a deeper connection with God, experiencing their work not merely as mundane tasks but as expressions of devotion. There are benefits associated with this practice of offering all actions to the Divine, suggesting that such an attitude enhances the spiritual experience and fosters a continuous relationship with God.
In sum, it teaches that devotion is not performed in isolation but is a living, breathing practice that imbues every moment of life with meaning and connection to the Divine.
Gita 9.28
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनै: |
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि || 28||
śhubhāśhubha-phalair evaṁ mokṣhyase karma-bandhanaiḥ
sannyāsa-yoga-yuktātmā vimukto mām upaiṣhyasi
Every action we take is inherently flawed, much like how smoke obscures fire. As we walk on the ground, we inadvertently harm countless tiny living entities beneath our feet. In our professional tasks, no matter how cautious we are, we still end up causing damage to the environment and inflicting suffering on others. Even consuming a cup of yoghurt comes with the consequence of destroying the living organisms it contains. Some religious traditions attempt to mitigate this unintentional harm by covering their mouths with cloth, yet this measure cannot entirely prevent the loss of life resulting from our breath.
When our actions stem from a desire for personal gain, we are accountable for the sins we commit, whether we are aware of them or not. According to the law of karma, we must face the consequences of our deeds. Even virtuous actions can be binding, as they compel the soul to ascend to celestial realms to enjoy their rewards. Therefore, both negative and positive karmas contribute to the perpetual cycle of birth and death. However, Shree Krishna, in this verse, presents a straightforward solution for nullifying all karmic reactions: he introduces the concept of "sanyās yog," which means the renunciation of selfish desires. He explains that when we dedicate our actions to the pleasure of God, we are liberated from the bonds of both good and bad outcomes.
Those who achieve this state of consciousness are referred to as "yog yuktātmā," meaning they are united in awareness of God. Such yogis attain "jīvan mukti," or liberation in consciousness, even while still embodied. Upon leaving their physical forms, they receive divine bodies and engage in eternal service in the heavenly realms of God.
Gita 9.29
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रिय: |
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् || 29||
samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣhu na me dveṣhyo ’sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣhu chāpyaham
In this verse, the belief in a perfectly just God is examined, highlighting how people perceive divine justice, especially in the face of suffering and injustice. Individuals often express their faith in God’s ultimate justice, claiming that misdeeds will not go unpunished. However, doubts arise regarding God's fairness, particularly when devotees seem to receive special grace, seemingly exempting them from the law of karma.
In response to this, Shree Krishna clarifies that He is impartial and treats all beings equally. He emphasizes that His grace operates under a uniform law, which states that He reciprocates the devotion and surrender of individuals according to their intentions. This principle is illustrated through the metaphor of rain, which falls uniformly yet yields different results based on the characteristics of the land it touches. While everyone is equally met with divine grace, those whose hearts remain impure cannot fully benefit from it, as they cannot receive this grace.
Krishna highlights the purifying power of bhakti (devotion), suggesting that sincere devotion can cleanse the heart and enable individuals to access God's grace, thus reinforcing the idea that connection to the divine is accessible to anyone willing to cultivate genuine love and devotion.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 1.2.2025
