Bhagavad Gita 9.27 — Whatever You Do, Eat, Offer, Give or Practice, Make It an Offering to Me
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् ।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥ ९.२७ ॥
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O son of Kunti, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give, and whatever austerity you practice, do it as an offering to Me.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yat | whatever |
| karoṣhi | you do |
| yat | whatever |
| aśhnāsi | you eat |
| yat | whatever |
| juhoṣhi | you offer in sacrifice |
| dadāsi | you give |
| yat | whatever |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yat | whatever |
| tapasyasi | you practice as austerity |
| kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| tat | that |
| kuruṣhva | do, make |
| mat-arpaṇam | an offering to Me |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yat | whatever | yat | whatever |
| karoṣhi | you do | tapasyasi | you practice as austerity |
| yat | whatever | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| aśhnāsi | you eat | tat | that |
| yat | whatever | kuruṣhva | do, make |
| juhoṣhi | you offer in sacrifice | mat-arpaṇam | an offering to Me |
| dadāsi | you give | ||
| yat | whatever | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna widens the teaching of the previous verse to include the entire range of human life. In this verse, He instructs Arjuna to make everything he does, eats, offers, gives and practices an offering to Him.
Essence
Turning All of Life into Worship
This verse is one of the practical summits of the Gita. It teaches that spiritual life is not a separate compartment but a way of doing everything. The Lord asks us to dedicate the whole of life to Him.
Yat karoṣi (whatever you do): This covers all work, whether a profession, a household duty or any daily activity. Nothing is too ordinary to be offered.
Yad aśnāsi (whatever you eat): Even eating becomes sacred when food is received with gratitude and offered to the Lord before it is taken. It transforms a bodily necessity into an act of remembrance.
Yaj juhoṣi (whatever you offer in sacrifice): Formal religious acts and rituals should also be done as offerings, free from the desire for personal reward.
Dadāsi yat (whatever you give): Charity and generosity should be given as service to the Lord present in all beings, without pride or expectation.
Yat tapasyasi (whatever austerity you practice): Even self-discipline and effort for spiritual growth are to be offered to Him and not used to feed the ego.
Tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam (do that as an offering to Me): The key instruction is arpaṇa, offering. The action itself may be the same, but the inner attitude changes entirely. It is performed not for the ego's glory but for the Lord's.
This transforms the very nature of work. Where there was anxiety about outcome, there is now surrender. Where there was pride in achievement, there is now gratitude.
Message for Everyday Life (Work as Worship)
Dissolve the line between sacred and secular: Many people feel that spirituality belongs to a few minutes of prayer and that the rest of life is only a struggle. The Gita teaches the opposite.
Practical approach: Begin each task with a silent intention, "This is for You." Offer your food before eating. Do your work with the best possible quality, since it is an offering. At the end of the day, let go of the results. This practice brings both excellence and peace.
Turning All of Life into Worship
This verse is one of the practical summits of the Gita. It teaches that spiritual life is not a separate compartment but a way of doing everything. The Lord asks us to dedicate the whole of life to Him.
Yat karoṣi (whatever you do): This covers all work, whether a profession, a household duty or any daily activity. Nothing is too ordinary to be offered.
Yad aśnāsi (whatever you eat): Even eating becomes sacred when food is received with gratitude and offered to the Lord before it is taken. It transforms a bodily necessity into an act of remembrance.
Yaj juhoṣi (whatever you offer in sacrifice): Formal religious acts and rituals should also be done as offerings, free from the desire for personal reward.
Dadāsi yat (whatever you give): Charity and generosity should be given as service to the Lord present in all beings, without pride or expectation.
Yat tapasyasi (whatever austerity you practice): Even self-discipline and effort for spiritual growth are to be offered to Him and not used to feed the ego.
Tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam (do that as an offering to Me): The key instruction is arpaṇa, offering. The action itself may be the same, but the inner attitude changes entirely. It is performed not for the ego's glory but for the Lord's.
This transforms the very nature of work. Where there was anxiety about outcome, there is now surrender. Where there was pride in achievement, there is now gratitude.
Message for Everyday Life (Work as Worship)
Dissolve the line between sacred and secular: Many people feel that spirituality belongs to a few minutes of prayer and that the rest of life is only a struggle. The Gita teaches the opposite.
Practical approach: Begin each task with a silent intention, "This is for You." Offer your food before eating. Do your work with the best possible quality, since it is an offering. At the end of the day, let go of the results. This practice brings both excellence and peace.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has taught that every action of life can be transformed into an offering to Him. In the next verse, He explains the liberating result of this attitude: freedom from the bondage of karma and the attainment of the Lord Himself.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Make every deed an offering.
Work is worship when its fruit is given away.
Ordinary hours become sacred hours.
A meal offered becomes a prayer.
What is offered cannot bind.
Dedicate, then let go.
Live as one long offering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'mat-arpaṇam' (an offering to Me) mean?
Why does Krishna list 'karoṣhi' (you do), 'aśhnāsi' (you eat), 'juhoṣhi' (you offer), 'dadāsi' (you give) and 'tapasyasi' (you practice austerity)?
How does this verse relate to the path of selfless action?
Does the verse require leaving one's duties?
What is the practical message of this verse?
Explore related topics
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