श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.५५ — मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.५५ — मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
मत्कर्मकृत्
mat-karma-kṛit
one who performs all work for My sake
मत्परमः
mat-paramaḥ
one who regards Me as the Supreme goal
मद्भक्तः
mad-bhaktaḥ
devoted to Me; My devotee
सङ्गवर्जितः
saṅga-varjitaḥ
free from attachment
निर्वैरः
nirvairaḥ
without enmity; free from malice
सर्वभूतेषु
sarva-bhūteṣhu
towards all living beings
यः
yaḥ
who
सः
saḥ
he
माम्
mām
to Me
एति
eti
comes; attains
पाण्डव
pāṇḍava
O Arjuna, son of Pandu
Complete Translation
हे पाण्डव! जो पुरुष मेरे लिए ही कर्म करने वाला है, मुझे ही परम लक्ष्य मानता है, जो मेरा भक्त है तथा आसक्ति से रहित है, और जो समस्त प्राणियों के प्रति निर्वैर है, वह मुझे प्राप्त होता है।
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 55
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
This is the concluding verse of the eleventh chapter, Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga. After revealing and then withdrawing His universal form and reassuring the shaken Arjuna, Krishna sums up the means of attaining Him in one verse. Commentators, foremost among them Adi Shankaracharya, regard it as the crystallised essence of the entire Gita.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhagavad Gita 11.55 considered so important?▼
Sri Adi Shankaracharya described this verse as the essence of the entire Bhagavad Gita. In a single shloka it gathers the Gita's core teachings — selfless action, devotion, detachment and universal goodwill — as the complete path to attaining the Lord.
What are the qualities of the devotee described in this verse?▼
The verse names five marks: performing all work for the Lord (mat-karma-krit), regarding Him as the supreme goal (mat-paramah), being devoted to Him (mad-bhaktah), being free from attachment (sanga-varjitah), and bearing no enmity toward any being (nirvairah sarva-bhuteshu).
What does 'nirvairah sarva-bhuteshu' teach?▼
It teaches freedom from enmity toward all living beings. The true devotee sees the Lord in everyone and therefore holds no hatred or hostility toward any creature, cultivating universal friendliness as part of the path to God.
How does this verse conclude the eleventh chapter?▼
After the awe-inspiring vision of the cosmic form, Krishna closes the chapter by gently turning Arjuna back to practice. This verse shows that the way to the Lord who contains all the worlds is loving, detached, selfless devotion lived toward all beings.
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