Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 29

English Translation

One attains Peace by knowing Me who, as the great Lord of all the worlds, am the enjoyer of sacrifices and austerities, (and) who am the friend of all creatures.

Detailed Commentary

Commentary on 5.29: 'Bhoktaram Yajna Tapasam'—When a human being performs any auspicious action, they consider the body, senses, mind, intellect, etc., as their own, and the entity for whom they perform the action, they consider that entity to be its enjoyer (bhokta). For instance, while worshipping a deity, one considers the deity as the enjoyer of that act of worship. But the Lord says that I alone am the true enjoyer (bhokta) of all auspicious actions. Because the Lord Himself resides in the heart of all beings. Therefore, all auspicious actions should be performed for the Lord. The focus should be on the Lord alone, not on any other being. In the twenty-fourth verse of the ninth chapter as well, the Lord has declared Himself to be the enjoyer of all Yajnas (sacrifices). Secondly, the body, senses, mind, intellect, etc., through which auspicious actions are performed, belong to the Lord, not to us. To consider them as one's own is a mistake. By performing auspicious actions for oneself, a person becomes the enjoyer of those actions. Therefore, the Lord says, 'Perform all auspicious actions for Me.' By doing so, you will not partake in the fruits of actions, and your connection with actions will be severed. Inauspicious actions arise from desire. By renouncing desire and working solely for the Lord, inauspicious actions do not occur, and the connection with auspicious actions also ceases. Becoming completely detached from actions, one attains supreme peace (paramashanti). 'Sarvaloka Maheshvaram'—There might be different Ishvaras (lords) for different lokas (worlds), but the Lord is superior even to them. Here, 'Sarvaloka Maheshvaram' means that the Lord is the sole master of creation. If everyone continues to consider the body and other material possessions as their own, then where does the Lord's mastery remain? Therefore, only one who considers nothing as their own can truly say, 'Everything belongs to the Lord.' A human being has the right to make good use of the body and other possessions, but not to consider them as their own. By considering these things as belonging to the Lord and engaging them in His service, one attains supreme peace. 'Suhridam Sarva Bhutanam'—He who is the Lord of all worlds is also the well-wisher of all, without any cause. Knowing this leads to supreme peace. The Lord is our supreme Suhrid (selfless friend/well-wisher) without any reason; therefore, how can there be fear or unrest? Accepting the Lord as the natural Suhrid of all brings peace. The Lord is the enjoyer of all Yajnas and Tapas (austerities), the great Lord of all worlds, and our supreme Suhrid. Even if one of these three truths is firmly accepted, supreme peace is attained. Desire nothing and do nothing for oneself; consider nothing as one's own, but rather consider the Lord as one's own. Accepting even one of these three automatically brings the others and leads to the attainment of God (Bhagavatprapti). The renunciation of the desire for personal happiness occurs only when a human being considers no being as their own. This is the true path. In the fifth chapter, the Lord has systematically described Karma Yoga and Sankhya Yoga, and finally described Bhakti Yoga, which is the Lord's primary objective. Thus, the fifth chapter of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is concluded.