man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣhyasi yuktvaivam ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ
mat-manāḥ — always think of me;
bhava — be;
mat — my;
bhaktaḥ — devotee;
mat — my;
yājī — worshipper;
mām — to me;
namaskuru — offer obeisances;
mām — to me;
eva — certainly;
eṣhyasi — you will come;
yuktvā — united with me;
evam — thus;
ātmānam — your mind and body;
mat-parāyaṇaḥ — having dedicated to me
In this verse, Lord Krishna is telling Arjuna that one of the key ways to connect with Him is by focusing your thoughts on Him. He says that if you keep your mind on Him, you should also worship Him and show respect by bowing down. When you do this sincerely, you will definitely find your way to Him and develop a deeper relationship with the divine.
Krishna emphasizes that the connection with Him is about the involvement of both your mind and actions. Just thinking about Him is not enough; it is important to actively worship Him and express gratitude. This shows your devotion and commitment.
The verse highlights that being aware of Krishna in your daily life helps you escape the struggles and pain of the material world. Many people live their lives filled with distractions, worries, and temporary joys that do not last. Krishna is presenting a solution: by keeping Him in your heart and dedicating your actions to Him, you can experience a true sense of peace and fulfillment.
Some commentators, who do not truly understand the essence of Krishna’s teachings, might try to interpret this differently. They might suggest that there are other valid paths to connect with the divine. However, Krishna's message is clear and straightforward. To ignore His words is to miss out on the opportunity to develop a genuine spiritual connection.
Krishna is not just a figure in a story; He represents the ultimate truth and being, meaning that His thoughts, feelings, and presence are all interconnected. When Krishna speaks, it is not only about what He says but also about who He is. Distinguishing between His teachings and His essence is incorrect. Understanding this point is essential, as many people might mislead others by simplifying or misrepresenting Krishna's nature.
In summary, the essence of this verse is to encourage strong devotion to Krishna through consistent thought, worship, and gratefulness, believing that such dedication will ultimately bring you closer to Him and lead to liberation from the troubles of worldly life.