sarva

अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्

sarvam — entire

Know that indestructible, by which all this is pervaded. No one can bring about the destruction of the imperishable.

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च

sarva-gataḥ — all-pervading

It cannot be cut, cannot be burnt, cannot be wetted, cannot be dried. It is everlasting, everywhere, unmoving, unchanging, always.

देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत

sarvasya — of everyone

The one who dwells in the body of every being cannot be killed. So do not grieve for any creature.

प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते

sarva — all

In that peace all sorrows are destroyed, for with a tranquil mind the understanding soon settles firmly.

या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी

sarva-bhūtānām — of all living beings

What is night for all beings is waking for the self-controlled; what is waking for all beings is night for the sage who sees.

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

sarva — all kinds of

The good, who eat what is left after the offering, are released from every fault. Those who cook only for themselves eat their own wrongdoing.

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्

sarva-gatam — all-pervading

Know that action arises from the Veda, and the Veda from the imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading is present in every offering.

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन

sarva-bhūteṣhu — among all living beings

Such a person gains nothing by acting and loses nothing by not acting, and depends on no creature for anything.

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्

sarva — all

The wise should not unsettle the minds of the unknowing who are attached to their work. Let them instead be encouraged in all they do.

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्

sarva-jñāna — in all types of knowledge

But those who scorn it and do not live by it — deluded in every kind of knowledge, without discernment — know them to be lost.

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः

sarva — all

Free of expectation, mind and self restrained, having let go of every claim of ownership, performing only the action of the body — such a person takes on nothing.

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप

sarvam — all

The offering of knowledge is better than the offering of possessions, Arjuna. All action, without exception, finds its end in knowledge.

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः

sarvebhyaḥ — of all

Even if you were the very worst of all who do wrong, you would cross the whole of it on the boat of knowledge.

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन

sarva-karmāṇi — all reactions from material activities

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ash, Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all action to ash.

योगयुक्तो विशुद्धात्मा विजितात्मा जितेन्द्रियः

sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhūta-ātmā — one who sees the Soul of all souls in every living being

Joined to yoga, pure in nature, self-mastered, senses conquered, seeing the self in all beings — such a person acts and is not stained.

सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी

sarva — all

Having renounced all actions with the mind, the self-governed one dwells at ease. The embodied one in this city of nine gates neither acts nor causes action.

लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषयः क्षीणकल्मषाः

sarva-bhūta — for all living entities

The seers whose faults are worn away, whose divisions are cut through, who are self-restrained and set on the good of all beings, reach the peace of Brahman.

भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्

sarva-loka — of all worlds

Knowing me as the one who receives every offering and austerity, the great lord of all worlds, and the friend of all beings — one comes to peace.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते

sarva-saṅkalpa — all desires for the fruits of actions

When a person is attached neither to the objects of sense nor to actions, having renounced every intention — that one is said to be established in yoga.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि

sarva-bhūta-stham — situated in all living beings

One joined in yoga sees the self in all beings and all beings in the self — sees the same everywhere.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति

sarvatra — everywhere

One who sees me everywhere and sees everything in me — I am never lost to that person, nor is that person lost to me.

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः

sarva-bhūta-sthitam — situated in all beings

One who, established in oneness, worships me as present in all beings — however such a person lives, that one lives in me.

मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय

sarvam — all

There is nothing higher than me, Arjuna. All this is strung on me like pearls on a thread.

रसोऽहमप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभास्मि शशिसूर्ययोः

sarva — in all

I am the taste in water, son of Kunti; the light in moon and sun; the syllable Om in all the Vedas; sound in space; and the courage in a person.

पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ

sarva — in all

I am the clean fragrance of the earth and the brightness in fire; the life in all that lives, and the austerity of those who practise it.

बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम्

sarva-bhūtānām — of all beings

Know me as the eternal seed of all beings, son of Pritha. I am the understanding of the understanding, the splendour of the splendid.

त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्

sarvam — whole

Deluded by these three states made of the strands, the whole world does not know me, who am above them and unchanging.

बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते

sarvam — all

After many births, one who knows comes to me, understanding that all this is Vasudeva. Such a soul is very rare.

नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः

sarvasya — to everyone

I am not manifest to everyone; I am veiled by my own power. The deluded world does not know me, unborn and unchanging.

इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत

sarva — all

By the confusion of opposites, arising from wanting and not wanting, all beings are bewildered at birth.

कविं पुराणमनुशासितार मणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्यः

sarvasya — of everything

One who remembers the ancient seer, the ruler, subtler than the subtlest, upholder of everything, unthinkable, radiant as the sun and beyond the dark —

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च

sarva-dvārāṇi — all gates

Holding all the gates closed, the mind confined in the heart, the breath established in the head, settled in the practice of yoga,

पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया

sarvam — all

That highest person, son of Pritha, is reached by devotion to nothing else — he in whom all beings rest, and by whom all this is pervaded.

मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना

sarvam — entire

By me, in my unmanifest form, all this world is pervaded. All beings rest in me; I do not rest in them.

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्

sarva-bhūtāni — all living beings

At the end of an age all beings merge into my nature, son of Kunti; and at the beginning of the next I send them forth again.

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च

sarva — of all

For I am the one who receives every offering, and its lord. But they do not know me as I am, and so they fall.

समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः

sarva-bhūteṣhu — to all living beings

I am the same in all beings. No one is hateful to me and no one dear. But those who worship me with devotion are in me, and I am in them.

यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम्

sarva-pāpaiḥ — from all evils

One who knows me as unborn, without beginning, the great lord of the worlds, is undeluded among mortals and freed of all fault.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते

sarvasya — of all creation

I am the origin of all; from me everything proceeds. Knowing this, the wise worship me with feeling.

सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव

sarvam — everything

I hold all this that you say to me to be true, Krishna. Neither the gods nor the demons know your appearing.

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः

sarva-bhūta — of all living entities

I am the self seated in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of beings.

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः

sarva-vṛikṣhāṇām — amongst all trees

Among all trees I am the sacred fig; among divine seers, Narada; among the heavenly singers, Chitraratha; and among the perfected, the sage Kapila.

मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम्

sarva-haraḥ — all-devouring

I am death, which carries everything off, and the origin of what is yet to be. Among what is feminine I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, wisdom, steadfastness and patience.

यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन

sarva-bhūtānām — of all living beings

And whatever is the seed of all beings, that am I, Arjuna. There is nothing that moves or does not move that exists without me.

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्

sarva — all

wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, all of it a marvel, radiant, endless, facing every way.

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व

sarvataḥ — from all sides

I bow to you from the front and from behind; I bow to you on every side, you who are all. Of endless strength and measureless might, you pervade everything, and so you are all.

मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः

sarva-bhūteṣhu — toward all entities

One who does my work, takes me as the highest, is devoted to me and free of attachment, and without hatred toward any being — that one comes to me.

ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते

sarvatra-gam — the all-pervading

But those who worship the imperishable, the undefinable, the unmanifest, the all-pervading, the unthinkable, the unmoving, the fixed, the everlasting —

संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः

sarvatra — everywhere

restraining all the senses, even-minded everywhere — they too reach me, intent on the good of all beings.

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः

sarva-karma — of all actions

And if you cannot manage even this, then take refuge in being joined to me, and give up the fruit of all action, self-restrained.

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च

sarva-bhūtānām — toward all living beings

Without hatred toward any being, friendly and compassionate, free of “mine” and of “I”, the same in pain and pleasure, patient;

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः

sarva-ārambha — of all undertakings

Expecting nothing, clean, capable, untroubled, without distress, who has given up every undertaking that grasps — such a devoted one is dear to me.

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत

sarva — all

Know me also as the knower of the field in every field, Arjuna. Knowledge of the field and of its knower — that I hold to be knowledge.

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्

sarvataḥ — everywhere

Hands and feet everywhere, eyes, heads and faces everywhere, hearing everywhere — it stands enclosing everything in the world.

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्

sarva — all

It appears through the qualities of all the senses and yet is without any sense; unattached, and yet the support of everything; without the strands of nature, and yet the enjoyer of them.

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते

sarvasya — of all living beings

The light of lights, said to be beyond the dark; it is knowledge, what is to be known, and what knowledge reaches — seated in the heart of all.

यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते

sarva-gatam — all-pervading

As space, being everywhere, is not tainted by its subtlety, so the self seated everywhere in the body is not tainted.

मम योनिर्महद्ब्रह्म तस्मिन् गर्भं दधाम्यहम्

sarva-bhūtānām — of all living beings

My womb is the great nature; in it I place the seed, and from that comes the birth of all beings, Arjuna.

सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः

sarva — all

Whatever forms arise in any womb, son of Kunti, the great nature is their womb, and I am the father who gives the seed.

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम्

sarva-dehinām — for all the embodied souls

Know inertia to be born of unknowing, the deluder of all the embodied. It binds by heedlessness, idleness and sleep.

सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते

sarva — all

When light appears at all the gates of this body, then know that clarity has grown strong.

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः

sarva — all

the same in honour and dishonour, the same toward friend and enemy, having given up every grasping undertaking — that one is said to have gone beyond the strands.

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च

sarvasya — of all living beings

And I am seated in the hearts of all. From me come memory and knowledge, and their loss. I am what is to be known through all the Vedas; I am the maker of their meaning, and the knower of them.

यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम्

sarva-vit — those with complete knowledge

One who, undeluded, knows me as the highest person knows everything, and worships me with their whole being, Arjuna.

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत

sarvasya — all

Everyone's faith accords with their nature, Arjuna. A person is made of their faith: as their faith is, so are they.

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः

sarvasya — of all

Even the food each person likes is of three kinds — and so are offering, austerity and giving. Hear how they differ.

काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः

sarva — all

The wise know renunciation to be the giving up of actions driven by desire; and letting go, the giving up of the fruit of all action.

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे

sarva — all

Learn from me, mighty-armed one, the five causes of all action, as told in the reckoning that brings action to an end:

सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते

sarva-bhūteṣhu — within all living beings

That knowledge by which one sees one imperishable nature in all beings, undivided in the divided, is of clarity.

अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसाऽऽवृता

sarva-arthān — all things

The understanding, wrapped in darkness, that takes what is wrong for what is right, and sees everything the wrong way round, is of inertia.

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्

sarvam — all

By worshipping through their own work the one from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person reaches perfection.

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्

sarva-ārambhāḥ — all endeavors

The work that comes with your own nature should not be abandoned even if it is flawed, son of Kunti. Every undertaking is wrapped in fault, as fire is wrapped in smoke.

सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः

sarva — all

Though always performing every kind of action, one who takes full refuge in me reaches by my grace the imperishable, unchanging state.

चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः

sarva-karmāṇi — every activity

Give over every action to me in your thought, take me as the highest, hold to the yoga of understanding, and keep your mind always on me.

मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि

sarva — all

With your mind on me you will cross every difficulty by my grace. But if out of the sense of self you will not listen, you will be lost.

ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति

sarva-bhūtānām — in all living being

The lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, Arjuna, and by his power turns them about, as though mounted on a wheel.

तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत

sarva-bhāvena — whole-heartedly

Take refuge in him with your whole being, Arjuna. By his grace you will come to the highest peace.

सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः श्रृणु मे परमं वचः

sarva-guhya-tamam — the most confidential of all

Hear again my highest word, the deepest secret of all. You are dear to me, and so I will tell you what is for your good.

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज

sarva-dharmān — all varieties of dharmas

Let go of every duty and take refuge in me alone. I will free you from all wrongdoing. Do not grieve.