Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 31

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः ।
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥

Transliteration

sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ .
sarvathā vartamāno.api sa yogī mayi vartate ॥

Meaning

The yogi who, established in oneness, worships Me as dwelling in all beings, abides in Me in whatever way he may be living.

Word meanings

सर्वभूतस्थितम् – dwelling in all beings
यः – who
माम् – Me
भजति – worships
एकत्वम् – in oneness
आस्थितः – established
सर्वथा – in every way
वर्तमानः – living, acting
अपि – even
सः – he
योगी – yogi
मयि – in Me
वर्तते – abides

Anvaya (word order)

यः एकत्वम् आस्थितः सर्वभूतस्थितं मां भजति, सः योगी सर्वथा वर्तमानः अपि मयि वर्तते ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna said he is never distant from one who sees him everywhere. This verse carries the thought further: whatever his circumstances and whatever work he is engaged in, such a yogi abides in the Lord.

Ekatvam asthitah — established in oneness. The yogi experiences that one and the same Lord dwells in all beings. He does not see separate gods in people, animals and nature but one God in all. In that spirit he offers bhakti — his service, love and respect go out to all beings, because the same Lord is in all.

Sarvatha vartamano 'pi — living in every possible way. This is the most significant part of the verse. To abide in the Lord the yogi need not sit forever in a cave. Whether he conducts business, cares for a family, fights a battle or serves others, in every situation his consciousness remains established in the Lord. Shankara says that such a person of right vision, however he may be living, is ever free; no outer condition obstructs his liberation.

This is a direct message to Arjuna too. He need not leave the battlefield for the forest. If he performs his duty while seeing the Lord in all, then even while fighting he will remain established in the Lord.

Context

Verse 6.30 described the unbreakable bond between the Lord and the devotee who sees him everywhere; this verse says that such a devotee abides in the Lord in every situation. The next verse (6.32) defines this equal vision as feeling the joys and sorrows of others as one's own.

Life lesson

Spirituality does not require running away from life. At home, at work, in the market — wherever you are, deal with each person as one in whom God dwells. Then every action becomes worship.

Key terms

Ekatva: the experience of one Supreme in all
Bhajati: worships with love
Sarvatha vartamana: living in any condition or activity