The most direct path: offer a leaf, a flower, a fruit, a sip of water — with love, and Krishna accepts it. He becomes the friend of even the most wretched if they turn to him with single-pointed devotion.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे । ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | idaṃ tu te guhya-tamaṃ pravakṣyāmy-anasūyave | jñānaṃ vijñāna-sahitaṃ yaj-jñātvā mokṣyase’śubhāt ||
The Blessed Lord said: To you, who do not cavil, I shall now declare this most secret knowledge together with realisation — knowing which you will be freed from evil.
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् । प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ॥
rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṃ pavitram-idam-uttamam | pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ su-sukhaṃ kartum-avyayam ||
This is the royal knowledge, the royal secret, the supreme purifier, directly realised, righteous, easy to practise, imperishable.
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप । अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ॥
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paran-tapa | aprāpya māṃ nivartante mṛtyu-saṃsāra-vartmani ||
Persons without faith in this dharma, O scorcher of foes, do not attain me — they return on the path of mortal samsara.
मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना । मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः ॥
mayā tatam-idaṃ sarvaṃ jagad-avyakta-mūrtinā | mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni na cāhaṃ teṣv-avasthitaḥ ||
All this universe is pervaded by me in my unmanifest form. All beings rest in me, yet I do not rest in them.
न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् । भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः ॥
na ca mat-sthāni bhūtāni paśya me yogam-aiśvaram | bhūta-bhṛn na ca bhūta-stho mamātmā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ ||
And yet beings do not rest in me. Behold my divine mystery! Sustaining beings, yet not dwelling in them — my Self is the source of beings.
यथाकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान् । तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय ॥
yathākāśa-sthito nityaṃ vāyuḥ sarvatra-go mahān | tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mat-sthānīty-upadhāraya ||
As the mighty wind, ever moving everywhere, abides in space — so do all beings abide in me. Understand this.
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् । कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ॥
sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām | kalpa-kṣaye punas-tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy-aham ||
All beings, O son of Kunti, return to my nature at the end of a kalpa; at the beginning of the next kalpa I send them forth again.
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः । भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥
prakṛtiṃ svām-avaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ | bhūta-grāmam-imaṃ kṛtsnam-avaśaṃ prakṛter-vaśāt ||
Animating my own nature, I send forth again and again this whole multitude of beings, helpless under the sway of nature.
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय । उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु ॥
na ca māṃ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya | udāsīna-vad-āsīnam-asaktaṃ teṣu karmasu ||
These actions do not bind me, O Dhananjaya — for I remain seated as if indifferent, unattached to those actions.
मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् । हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ॥
mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram | hetunānena kaunteya jagad-viparivartate ||
Under my supervision, nature produces all that moves and does not move. By this cause, O son of Kunti, the world revolves.
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् । परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ॥
avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanum-āśritam | paraṃ bhāvam-ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśvaram ||
Fools disregard me when I have taken human form, not knowing my higher state as the great Lord of beings.
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः । राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः ॥
moghāśā mogha-karmāṇo mogha-jñānā vicetasaḥ | rākṣasīm-āsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ ||
Their hopes vain, their actions vain, their knowledge vain, devoid of discrimination — they take refuge in the deluding rakshasic and asuric nature.
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः । भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् ॥
mahātmānas-tu māṃ pārtha daivīṃ prakṛtim-āśritāḥ | bhajanty-ananya-manaso jñātvā bhūtādim-avyayam ||
But the great souls, O Partha, abiding in the divine nature, worship me with undivided mind, knowing me as the imperishable source of beings.
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः । नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ॥
satataṃ kīrtayanto māṃ yatantaś-ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ | namasyantaś-ca māṃ bhaktyā nitya-yuktā upāsate ||
Always singing my glories, striving with firm vows, bowing in devotion, ever steadfast — they worship me.
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते । एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् ॥
jñāna-yajñena cāpy-anye yajanto mām-upāsate | ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvato-mukham ||
Others worship me through the sacrifice of knowledge — as one, as separate, in many forms, as the all-faced One.
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाहमहमौषधम् । मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम् ॥
ahaṃ kratur-ahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhāham-aham-auṣadham | mantro’ham-aham-evājyam-aham-agnir-ahaṃ hutam ||
I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering to the ancestors, I am the medicinal herb, I am the mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, I am the oblation.
पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः । वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक्साम यजुरेव च ॥
pitāham-asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ | vedyaṃ pavitram-oṅkāra ṛk-sāma yajur-eva ca ||
I am the father of this world, the mother, the sustainer, the grandfather. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier, the syllable Om — and the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas.
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् । प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ॥
gatir-bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt | prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ nidhānaṃ bījam-avyayam ||
I am the goal, the supporter, the lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, the friend; the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house, the imperishable seed.
तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च । अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन ॥
tapāmy-aham-ahaṃ varṣaṃ nigṛhṇāmy-utsṛjāmi ca | amṛtaṃ caiva mṛtyuś-ca sad-asac-cāham-arjuna ||
I give heat; I withhold and send forth the rain. I am immortality and death; I am being and non-being, O Arjuna.
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकमश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् ॥
trai-vidyā māṃ soma-pāḥ pūta-pāpā yajñair-iṣṭvā svar-gatiṃ prārthayante | te puṇyam-āsādya surendra-lokam-aśnanti divyān divi deva-bhogān ||
The knowers of the three Vedas, drinkers of soma, purified of sin — worshipping me with sacrifices, they pray for heaven. Attaining the world of Indra, they enjoy divine pleasures in heaven.
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति । एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ॥
te taṃ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṃ viśālaṃ kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṃ viśanti | evaṃ trayī-dharmam-anuprapannā gatāgataṃ kāma-kāmā labhante ||
Having enjoyed that vast heavenly world, with merit exhausted, they enter the mortal world. Thus, following the dharma of the three Vedas, those desiring desires obtain coming and going.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
ananyāś-cintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate | teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yoga-kṣemaṃ vahāmy-aham ||
Those who, thinking of none other, worship me — to those ever-united ones, I bring the means of attainment and protection of what they have.
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ye’py-anya-devatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ | te’pi mām-eva kaunteya yajanty-avidhi-pūrvakam ||
Even those who are devoted to other gods and worship with faith — they too worship me, O son of Kunti, though not by the proper rite.
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च । न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥
ahaṃ hi sarva-yajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhur-eva ca | na tu mām-abhijānanti tattvenātaś-cyavanti te ||
For I am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices. But they do not know me in truth, and hence they fall.
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः । भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम् ॥
yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ | bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino’pi mām ||
Worshippers of the devas go to the devas; worshippers of the ancestors go to the ancestors; worshippers of spirits go to the spirits; my worshippers come to me.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati | tad-ahaṃ bhakty-upahṛtam-aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water — that offering of love from the pure-hearted, I accept.
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् । यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ॥
yat karoṣi yad-aśnāsi yaj-juhoṣi dadāsi yat | yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam ||
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer, whatever you give, whatever austerity you perform, O son of Kunti — do it as an offering to me.
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः । संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि ॥
śubhāśubha-phalair-evaṃ mokṣyase karma-bandhanaiḥ | saṃnyāsa-yoga-yuktātmā vimukto mām-upaiṣyasi ||
Thus you shall be freed from the bondage of actions yielding good and evil fruits. With self united in the yoga of renunciation, you shall come to me, liberated.
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः । ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥
samo’haṃ sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo’sti na priyaḥ | ye bhajanti tu māṃ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpy-aham ||
I am the same to all beings; none is hated by me, none is dear. But those who worship me with devotion are in me, and I am in them.
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् । साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥
api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām-ananya-bhāk | sādhur-eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag-vyavasito hi saḥ ||
Even if a person of the worst conduct worships me with undivided devotion, he is to be regarded as righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति । कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ॥
kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvac-chāntiṃ nigacchati | kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati ||
Soon he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace. O son of Kunti, declare boldly — my devotee never perishes.
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः । स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥
māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ | striyo vaiśyās-tathā śūdrās te’pi yānti parāṃ gatim ||
For taking refuge in me, O Partha — even those of lower birth, women, vaishyas, and shudras — they too reach the supreme goal.
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा । अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥
kiṃ punar-brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas-tathā | anityam-asukhaṃ lokam-imaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām ||
How much more, then, the holy brahmanas and devoted royal sages! Having come into this impermanent and joyless world, worship me.
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु । मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः ॥
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṃ namas-kuru | mām-evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam-ātmānaṃ mat-parāyaṇaḥ ||
Fix your mind on me, be devoted to me, sacrifice to me, bow down to me. Thus uniting yourself, with me as the supreme goal, you shall come to me.