These two verses from Chapter 9 contain one of the most radical and beautiful teachings in the Bhagavad Gita. In a religious landscape often dominated by elaborate rituals, expensive offerings, and priestly mediation, Krishna declares that He accepts the simplest offering – a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water – if given with love.
This teaching democratizes spirituality. The poor person's single flower equals or surpasses the wealthy person's elaborate ceremony if offered with genuine devotion. The uneducated devotee's simple prayer reaches the divine as surely as the scholar's sophisticated worship. What matters is not the offering's value but the offerer's heart.
Furthermore, verse 27 extends this principle to all action. Not just formal worship, but eating, giving, austerity – every act can become an offering. This transforms ordinary life into continuous devotion.
Krishna specifically names four items anyone can offer:
These four items are deliberately humble. They're available to the poorest person. No money needs to change hands. No preparation is required. This is intentional – Krishna removes all barriers to worship.
Two conditions appear in the verse:
Without devotion, even elaborate offerings are empty. With devotion, even water becomes nectar to the divine. The Gita consistently emphasizes inner attitude over outer form.
A famous story illustrates this teaching. When Krishna visited the humble Vidura, the wise minister was so overcome with love that he absentmindedly offered Krishna banana peels instead of the fruit. Krishna ate them with relish, receiving the devotion, not the physical substance. This story captures the essence of 9.26 – what matters is the love, not the item.
The word "bhakti" appears twice in verse 26, emphasizing its centrality. Bhakti is not mere emotion – it's a way of relating to the divine characterized by:
Bhakti yoga is one of the Gita's primary paths. Unlike jnana yoga (knowledge) requiring philosophical aptitude, or raja yoga (meditation) requiring mental discipline, bhakti is accessible to everyone. The heart can love regardless of education, wealth, or social position.
Notice Krishna's language: "I accept" (ashnami – literally "I eat/consume"). This suggests intimate reception. The divine doesn't merely receive the offering as a king receives tribute – Krishna consumes it, takes it into Himself, as one accepts a gift from a beloved.
This mutual love defines bhakti. The devotee offers with love; the divine receives with love. A relationship exists, not a transaction.
Verse 27 expands the teaching radically. Not just formal worship, but:
The instruction "tat kurusva mad-arpanam" (do that as an offering to Me) transforms ordinary life into continuous worship. Nothing is secular when offered to the divine.
Before any significant action, pause and silently say: "I offer this to You." This brief moment transforms the action from personal to devotional. Over time, this becomes natural – continuous offering without constant conscious attention.
Even the Advaita (non-dual) master Shankara, who emphasized jnana (knowledge), acknowledged the power of these verses. He notes that the Lord accepts any offering made with devotion, showing infinite compassion. The simplicity of acceptable offerings reveals divine accessibility.
Ramanuja, the bhakti theologian, sees these verses as central to the Gita's teaching. The Lord's acceptance of simple offerings demonstrates His love for devotees. The verse "I accept" shows the mutual relationship – the Lord delights in receiving just as devotees delight in giving.
Madhva emphasizes that the Lord doesn't need offerings – He is complete in Himself. His acceptance is pure grace, an expression of love that makes relationship possible. The devotee gains by giving; the Lord gains nothing but gives everything through acceptance.
The verse teaches that Krishna accepts even the simplest offerings – a leaf, flower, fruit, or water – when given with devotion and a pure heart. The material value doesn't matter; the love behind the offering determines its acceptability.
Yes – verse 9.27 explicitly states that whatever we do, eat, sacrifice, give, or practice as austerity can be offered to the divine. This transforms ordinary life into continuous worship. The key is the intention of offering.
By naming items available to everyone – leaf, flower, fruit, water – Krishna removes all barriers to devotional practice. The poorest person can worship as effectively as the wealthiest. This democratizes spirituality, making it accessible to all.
Bhakti (devotion/love) is the essential element. The word appears twice in verse 26. Without devotion, offerings are empty ritual. With devotion, even water becomes precious to the divine. The heart's attitude determines the offering's value.
Study the complete teachings on devotion in the Bhagavad Gita.
Download Srimad Gita AppGet personalized spiritual guidance with the Srimad Gita App. Daily verses, AI-powered insights, and more.