Bhagavad Gita 9.27

Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · English Translation

Whatever thou doest, whatever thou eatest, whatever thou offerest in sacrifice, whatever thou givest, whatever thou practisest as austerity, O Arjuna, do it as an offering unto Me.

Sanskrit

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् | यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ||९-२७||

Transliteration

yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat . yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam ||9-27||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that every action he performs—whether working, eating, giving charity, or practicing discipline—should be offered as a dedication to God. This teaching transforms ordinary daily activities into spiritual practices by changing the motivation behind them from personal gain to divine service. The core message is that when actions are performed without selfish attachment and with a spirit of surrender, they purify the mind and lead to liberation.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse is a cornerstone of Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action) intertwined with Bhakti Yoga (devotion), teaching that the path to liberation lies not in renouncing work but in changing one's attitude toward it. It develops the concept of 'Arpana Buddhi'—the consciousness of offering—which neutralizes the karmic reactions of actions by dedicating their fruits to the Divine.

Word by Word

यत् whatever, करोषि thou doest, यत् whatever, अश्नासि thou eatest, यत् whatever, जुहोषि thou offerest in sacrifice, ददासि thou givest, यत् whatever, यत् whatever, तपस्यसि thou practisest as austerity, कौन्तेय O Kaunteya, तत् that, कुरुष्व do, मदर्पणम् offering unto Me

Classical Commentary

Consecrate all acts to the Lord. Then you will be freed from the bondage of Karma. You will have freedom in action. He who tries to live in the spirit of this verse will be able to do selfsurrender unto the Lord. Gradually he ascends the spiritual path step by step. His greedy nature is slowly dissolved now. He always gives. He is not eager to take. His whole life with all its actions, thoughts and feelings, is dedicated to the service of the Lord eventually. He lives for the Lord only. He works for the Lord only. There is not a bit of egoism now. His whole nature is transformed into divinity. When actions are dedicated to the Lord, there is no rirth for you. This is the simplest method of Yoga. Do not waste your time any longer. Take it up from today. All actions, all results and all rewards will go to the Lord. There is no separte living for the individual. Just as the river joins the sea abandoning its own name and form so also the individual soul joins the Supreme Soul giving up his own name and form, his own egoistic desires and egoism. The individual will has become one with the cosmic will. Whatever thou doest of thy own sweet will, whatever thou offerest in sacrifice as enjoined in the scriptures, whatever thou givest -- such things as gold, rice, ghee, clothes, etc., to the Brahmins and others -- whatever austerity such as the ChandrayanaVrata (to destroy sin), control of the senses, etc., thou doest, do thou all these as an offering unto Me. (Cf. V.32XII.6and8)Now listen to what you will gain by doing thus.

Where This Happens

This verse appears during the Bhagavad Gita's ninth chapter, known as 'Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga,' delivered by Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Arjuna has just witnessed a divine vision of Krishna and is overwhelmed with emotion; he seeks to understand how to integrate this spiritual realization into his immediate duty as a warrior. At this moment, Arjuna feels torn between familial duty and fear of sinning in battle, so Krishna offers the ultimate solution: turning every action, including violence required for dharma, into an act of worship.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional facing burnout from working overtime solely to secure a promotion or financial bonus. Instead of viewing these extra hours as a burden or a transaction for money, they can reframe the work as 'Madarpunam'—offering their skill and effort to serve the greater good of their team and family. By shifting the focus from personal reward to service quality, the anxiety about outcomes decreases, and the individual finds peace in doing their best regardless of external validation.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have your favorite toy or a delicious snack; usually, you might keep it all for yourself because you want it most. Krishna teaches us to do everything we love as if we are giving our best gift to God first, like offering our playtime toys to Him before playing with them ourselves. When you eat your lunch, share your snacks with friends, or work hard at a task, say 'This is for You' in your heart. This special way of doing things makes every moment feel happy and connected to something bigger than just us.

Daily Reflection

You do not need to wait for a temple ceremony to connect with the Sacred; every breath and bite of your day holds this potential. When you eat, consider it fuel offered in love rather than mere consumption, and when you work, view it as worship performed by your hands. This simple shift turns your entire life into an uninterrupted stream of devotion, freeing you from the burden of seeking holiness elsewhere.

A Practice for Today

Pause for a moment and bring your awareness to the very next action you take, whether it is drinking water or speaking a word. Silently offer that specific act as food for the Divine presence within, transforming the mundane into a sacred communion.

Key Teachings

The Sanctity of Daily Action
No action is too small or mundane to be devoid of spiritual significance; every deed becomes a ritual when performed with conscious intent. By elevating routine activities like eating and giving, we dissolve the boundary between secular life and sacred practice.
Surrender as Offering
The core instruction is to dedicate all fruits of one's actions—whether sacrifice, charity, or austerities—to the Divine. This transforms personal ambition into an act of service, removing ego from the equation and aligning the will with the divine order.
Ubiquity of Presence
The verse implies that the Divine is present to receive offerings in every moment and through every sense. By recognizing this constant presence, one realizes that devotion is not confined to specific times or places but is a continuous state of being.

Themes

Selfless ActionDevotion and SurrenderDaily Life SpiritualityDetachment from ResultsKarma YogaDivine Connection

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — Read this next for Krishna's foundational instruction on performing duty without attachment to results.
3.9 — This verse clarifies the concept of 'Yajna' (sacrifice) and how work becomes binding or liberating based on intent.
12.15 — Read this to understand the qualities of a devotee who has successfully internalized the spirit of selfless offering described in verse 9.27.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this verse mean I should stop eating or giving charity?

No, the verse explicitly includes eating and giving as actions to be performed; it instructs us not to abandon them but to change the intention behind them. Krishna is teaching that these activities become spiritually potent when done without selfish desire for a reward.

How can I offer something like 'austerity' (tapasya) which sounds difficult?

Austerity here refers to any disciplined effort, such as waking up early, studying hard, or controlling one's temper. You practice this by doing so not for self-aggrandizement but as a dedication to your higher purpose or God.

Is 'Madarpunam' only applicable to religious people?

While the term is spiritual, the principle applies to anyone seeking peace and meaning in their life. It suggests that viewing any action as service rather than a selfish transaction reduces stress and creates a sense of universal connection.

What happens if I forget to make an offering while doing something?

The Gita teaches gradual practice; perfection is not required immediately. The key is the sincere intention (Buddhi) to dedicate actions, and over time, this habit of mindfulness transforms the mind even when you momentarily forget.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 9.27 →