Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 9

Chapter 10 – Vibhuti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् ।
कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ॥

Transliteration

maccittā madgataprāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam .
kathayantaśca māṃ nityaṃ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca ॥

Meaning

With their minds fixed on Me, their lives given to Me, enlightening one another and always speaking of Me, they are content and they rejoice.

Word meanings

मच्चित्ताः – with minds fixed on Me
मद्गतप्राणाः – with lives absorbed in Me
बोधयन्तः – enlightening
परस्परम् – one another
कथयन्तः – speaking of
च – and
माम् – Me
नित्यम् – always
तुष्यन्ति – are content
च – and
रमन्ति – rejoice, delight
च – and

Anvaya (word order)

मच्चित्ताः मद्गतप्राणाः (ते) परस्परं बोधयन्तः च नित्यं मां कथयन्तः तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ।

Explanation

The previous verse gave devotion its foundation in knowledge. This verse paints a living, sweet picture of how devotees think, live and speak, and what joy they find. As the second of the four essential verses, it shows both the inner and the communal sides of devotion.

Mach-chittah: their minds are fixed on Me. This is the mental side of devotion; as a needle is drawn to a magnet, their minds turn naturally to God. Mad-gata-pranah: their life-breath has gone to Me. Shankara takes this to mean that all their senses and their very life are offered to the Lord. Ramanuja says such devotees cannot even sustain life without the Lord, as a fish cannot live without water. He is the breath of their life.

Bodhayantah parasparam: they enlighten one another about the Lord. This is the communal side, satsang, the company of the good. Devotees do not progress alone but together; one person’s experience becomes another’s inspiration. Kathayantash cha mam nityam: they always speak of Me. As lovers never tire of talking about their beloved, devotees remain immersed in conversation about the Lord’s qualities, deeds and names.

Tushyanti cha ramanti cha: they are content and they delight. Ramanuja draws a lovely distinction: as speakers they find contentment (tushyanti), and as listeners they are carried away with delight (ramanti). Shankara describes the two as satisfaction and the joy of being with the beloved. This joy depends on nothing external; it wells up from within.

The verse shows that devotion is not a dry duty but a life brimming with joy. In speaking of God, devotees find a fulfilment that nothing in the world can give.

Context

Verse 8 laid the foundation of devotion in knowledge: the Lord is the source of all. This verse describes the devotees’ life, their satsang and their joy. In the next verse Krishna says that to such loving devotees He Himself grants the yoga of understanding.

Life lesson

Grow devotion in good company rather than alone; spend time with those who find joy in speaking of God. Both listening to and sharing good things are spiritual practice. True contentment lies not in external things but in remembrance of the Lord.

Key terms

Mach-chitta: one whose mind is fixed on the Lord
Mad-gata-prana: one whose life is given to the Lord
Satsang: company of devotees, shared talk of God
Tushti: contentment
Ramana: delight, rejoicing