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Chapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme · 28 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 8 · Attaining the Supreme
8.279.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 8.28

Devotional service surpasses ritual rewards

वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तप:सु चैव

दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् ।

अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा

योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥ २८ ॥

vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva

dāneṣu yat puṇya-phalaṁ pradiṣṭam

atyeti tat sarvam idaṁ viditvā

yogī paraṁ sthānam upaiti cādyam

Translation

A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, undergoing austerities, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he attains all these, and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.

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.

Devotional Service Gives All Results

  1. 1Devotional service gives all the benefits of Vedic study, sacrifice, austerity, charity and other pursuits, and leads to the supreme eternal abode.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that service to Kṛṣṇa surpasses all Vedic rituals and reaches its perfection in love for Kṛṣṇa and eternal happiness in His abode.
  3. 3Learn Bhagavad-gītā from a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Hearing in devotees’ company helps you understand it and grow in devotional service.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 8, Attaining the Supreme: devotional service surpasses ritual rewards.

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

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 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 8.28 — 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.