Bhagavad Gita BG 18.57
Chapter 18, Verse 57 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः । बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य मच्चित्तः सततं भव ॥
cetasa sarva-karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah buddhi-yogam upashritya mac-cittah satatam bhava
Meaning
Surrendering all actions to Me mentally, making Me the highest goal, taking refuge in the yoga of intellect — constantly keep your mind on Me.
Understanding
The practical instruction: cetasa (mentally/with the mind) sarva-karmani mayi sannyasya (surrendering all actions to Me). Mat-parah (making Me the supreme goal — para = highest). Buddhi-yogam upashritya (taking refuge in the yoga of intellect — the discriminating wisdom that keeps the mind pointed toward Krishna). Mac-cittah satatam bhava (constantly be one whose mind is fixed on Me). The mental surrender comes first (not physical renunciation); then constant Mac-citta (Krishna-mindedness) follows. Buddhi-yoga is the discriminating intelligence that continually redirects the mind toward the Divine when it wanders.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| चेतसा | cetasa | with the mind/consciousness, mentally |
| संन्यस्य | sannyasya | surrendering, renouncing, dedicating |
| मत्परः | mat-parah | making Me the highest goal, with Me as supreme (para = highest) |
| मच्चित्तः | mac-cittah | with mind on Me, Me-minded (citta = mind/consciousness) |
| सततम् | satatam | constantly, continuously, always |
| चेतसा | cetasā | with consciousness |
| सर्व-कर्माणि | sarva-karmaṇi | all actions |
| मयि | mayi | in Me |
| मत्-परः | mat-paraḥ | devoted to Me |
| बुद्धि-योगम् | buddhi-yogam | the yoga of intelligence |
| उपाश्रित्य | upāśritya | taking shelter of |
| मत्-चित्तः | mat-cittaḥ | with mind on Me |
| भव | bhava | be |