GitaChapter 18Verse 65

Gita 18.65

Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु | मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ||६५||

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru | mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo 'si me ||65||

In essence: Fix your mind on Me, be My devotee, worship Me, bow to Me—you shall surely come to Me. I promise you truly, for you are dear to Me.

A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply

Sadhak-Guru Dialogue

Sadhak: "Four instructions—is the order significant? Which is most important?"

Guru: "They're interconnected, not sequential. Mind fixed on Krishna naturally becomes devotion; devotion expresses as worship; worship culminates in humble surrender. But if one is challenging, start where you can. Some find devotion easiest; others begin with the discipline of mind-focus. All lead to the same union."

Sadhak: "'Satyam te pratijane'—I promise you truly. Can God promise? Isn't that limiting?"

Guru: "God's promise isn't a limitation but a revelation of divine nature. Krishna can promise because He knows the law of spiritual reality: genuine devotion unfailingly reaches its goal. He's not promising to override cosmic law but revealing its operation. Love for God leads to God—this is simply true. The promise makes it explicit."

Sadhak: "What if I try all four and still don't feel I'm reaching Krishna?"

Guru: "The promise is 'you shall come'—future tense. The path may be long, but the destination is guaranteed. Feeling isn't the measure; persistence is. Many devotees felt lost, dry, distant—yet continued practicing. Eventually the breakthrough came. Krishna doesn't promise immediate results but ultimate arrival. Trust the promise; continue practice."

Sadhak: "'Priyo'si me'—you are dear to Me. This is repeated from verse 64. Why emphasize it again?"

Guru: "Because the promise flows from love. A stranger making promises can be doubted; a lover's promise carries weight. Krishna emphasizes His love so Arjuna trusts the promise. 'This isn't contract; this is relationship. I promise because I love. My love ensures the promise.' This is bhakti's heart: divine love reaching toward human love, promising union."

Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.

🌅 Daily Practice

🌅 Morning

Make this verse your life-mantra. Upon waking: 'Man-mana bhava—I fix my mind on You. Mad-bhakto—I am Your devotee. Mad-yaji—I offer this day to You. Mam namaskuru—I bow to You.' Let these four phrases structure your morning offering.

☀️ Daytime

Throughout the day, touch each dimension: mind (remember Krishna in transitions), heart (feel devotion when beauty or goodness appears), action (offer work as sacrifice), humility (mentally bow when ego rises). The four practices become continuous spiritual life.

🌙 Evening

End the day with Krishna's promise: 'Mam evaishyasi satyam te pratijane priyo'si me—You shall certainly come to Me, I promise you truly, for you are dear to Me.' Rest in the assurance. Whatever the day brought, the promise stands. You are moving toward union. The Lord guarantees it.

Common Questions

Is this verse saying only Krishna-devotees can reach God? What about other paths?
Krishna is speaking to Arjuna in personal relationship, not making exclusive theological claims. The essence—fixing mind on the Divine, devotion, worship, surrender—can be practiced toward God in any authentic form. Krishna as universal Lord includes all genuine approaches to the Divine. The instruction applies to sincere seekers everywhere.
What does 'coming to Krishna' actually mean? Is it physical, spiritual, metaphorical?
It means liberation—freedom from ego-bondage, from the cycle of samsara, establishment in divine relationship. Different traditions understand this differently: merging, eternal service, divine vision. All agree: the separation between devotee and Lord ends. The suffering of isolated existence ceases. What exactly this looks like transcends description.
If the promise is guaranteed, does my effort matter? Isn't grace doing everything?
Your effort IS grace working through you. The practice (your part) and the promise (Krishna's part) aren't opposed but united. You couldn't practice without grace; grace reaches you through practice. Effort and grace are two sides of one movement. Practice with full effort while trusting that grace ensures the outcome.