yat karoṣhi yad aśhnāsi yaj juhoṣhi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣhva mad-arpaṇam
yat — whatever;
karoṣhi — you do;
yat — whatever;
aśhnāsi — you eat;
yat — whatever;
juhoṣhi — offer to the sacred fire;
dadāsi — bestow as a gift;
yat — whatever;
yat — whatever;
tapasyasi — austerities you perform;
kaunteya — Arjun, the son of Kunti;
tat — them;
kuruṣhva — do;
mad arpaṇam — as an offering to me
In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna that everything we do in life should be done with a sense of connection to Him. This means that whether we are working, eating, giving to others, or even performing spiritual practices, we should think of Krishna and offer those actions to Him.
Think about your daily routine. When you wake up, you might have breakfast, go to work, or do household chores. Krishna is saying that while you do these things, remember Him and dedicate those actions to Him. For instance, when you prepare food, you can think of it as nourishing your body to serve others and honor Krishna. After cooking, if you offer a little portion to Him mentally or by prayer, you accept the rest as food blessed by Him. This way, eating becomes a spiritual act rather than just a routine.
Krishna also mentions offering and charitable acts. Many people like to help others or give gifts. Here, He suggests that when you give something to someone, think of it as giving to Him. For example, if you donate money to a charity, see it as helping Krishna's cause. This brings a deeper meaning to our actions, connecting them with a higher purpose.
Moreover, Krishna talks about austerities, which are disciplined practices like fasting or meditation. He encourages us that while doing any form of discipline, whether it is yoga, meditation, or fasting, we should remember Him and do it with the intention of serving Him. In today's busy world, many people are interested in practices like meditation, but Krishna teaches that continuously remembering and chanting His names, like the Hare Krishna mantra, is a powerful way to connect with Him.
Ultimately, Krishna wants us to make our whole life about Him, turning every action into an offering and every thought into devotion. This approach helps us feel more connected and grounded, no matter what we are doing. It's about integrating our spiritual life into our daily activities, making everything we do a step closer to understanding and loving Krishna.