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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.5518.57

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.56

Perform duty in surrender to Krishna

सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्‍व्यपाश्रय: ।

मत्प्रसादादवाप्‍नोति शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ॥ ५६ ॥

sarva-karmāṇy api sadā

kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ

mat-prasādād avāpnoti

śāśvataṁ padam avyayam

Translation

Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Under Kṛṣṇa’s Protection

  1. 1Though engaged in all kinds of activities, Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee reaches His eternal abode by His grace and protection.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a pure devotee always acts under the Lord’s or spiritual master’s direction and is guaranteed entrance into Kṛṣṇaloka despite difficulties.
  3. 3Seek to act under the direction of the Lord or the spiritual master to become free from material contamination.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 18, The Perfection of Renunciation: perform duty in surrender to krishna.

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 18.56 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 18 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.57Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 18.58Perform duty in surrender to KrishnaBG 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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Ask about BG 18.56 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

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.