Bhagavad Gita 9.27

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi

yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

 

Whatever you do, whatever you eat,

Whatever you offer in worship complete,

Whatever you give, whatever austerity you perform—

Do that, O Arjuna, as an offering to me in every form.

 

My dear Lord, devotion to you doesn’t center on restricting my actions; rather, it centers on redirecting my aspirations toward you. Sometimes, I fear getting caught in the world’s illusion so much that I avoid engaging in worldly activities altogether. Help me view bhakti positively, seeing the vast opportunities for service to you in this world, and focus on what I can do instead of what I cannot.

Ultimately, you wish me to grow, O infallible Lord, and growth comes by learning to harmonize even worldly things with your purpose and pleasure. Help me remember: my interests and inclinations are not always inducements created by Maya. Sometimes, they are your arrangements—gifts meant to bring me closer to you when used intelligently and harmoniously in your service.

O merciful Lord, you want me to offer you my entire range of activities in their practical necessity and their individual variety. My activities arise from both my needs and my desires. Both my needs, like food, and my desires, rooted in my interests, can fit within your plan for me. Grant me the confidence and wisdom to harmonize my activities with you cautiously, consistently, and competently.

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09.27 Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.