BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:57

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:57

 

cetasa sarva-karmani

mayi sannyasya mat-parah

buddhi-yogam upasritya

mac-cittah satatam bhava

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

cetasa--by intelligence; sarva-karmani--all kinds of activities;

mayi--unto Me; sannyasya--giving up; mat-parah--under My protection;

buddhi-yogam--devotional activities; upasritya--taking shelter of;

mat-cittah--in consciousness of Me; satatam--twenty-four hours a day;

bhava- just become.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My

protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.

 

PURPORT

 

When one acts in Krsna consciousness, he does not act as the master of

the world. Just like a servant, one should act fully under the

direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual

independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant

acting on behalf of the supreme master is unaffected by profit and

loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order

of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the

personal direction of Krsna but when Krsna is not present how should

one act? If one acts according to the direction of Krsna in this book,

as well as under the guidance of the representative of Krsna, then the

result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-parah is very important

in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life save and

except acting in Krsna consciousness just to satisfy Krsna. And while

working in that way, one should think of Krsna only: "I have been

appointed to discharge this particular duty by Krsna." While acting in

such a way, one naturally has to think of Krsna. This is perfect Krsna

consciousness. One should, however, note that after doing something

whimsically he should not offer the result to the Supreme Lord. That

sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Krsna consciousness.

One should act according to the order of Krsna. This is a very

important point. That order of Krsna comes through disciplic

succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the

spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If

one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his

direction, then one's perfection of life in Krsna consciousness is

guaranteed.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.