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Chapter 12 · Devotional Service · 20 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 12 · Devotional Service
12.1012.12

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 12.11

Krishna describes devotional practice and progression

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रित: ।

सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं तत: कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥ ११ ॥

athaitad apy aśakto ’si

kartuṁ mad-yogam āśritaḥ

sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ

tataḥ kuru yatātmavān

Translation

If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Giving Up Work’s Results

  1. 1If you cannot work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, try to give up all results of your work and become steady within yourself.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that giving up these results gradually purifies the mind, helping one understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness and reach pure devotional service.
  3. 3If difficulties prevent direct work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, give the results of your work to a good cause.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 12, Devotional Service: krishna describes devotional practice and progression.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 12.11 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 12 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 12.2Krishna describes devotional practice and progressionBG 12.3Krishna describes devotional practice and progressionBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.