Chapter 4 Verse 24
Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्। ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना।।4.24।।
brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā
Word Meanings
| brahma | Brahman |
| arpaṇam | the ladle and other offerings |
| brahma | Brahman |
| haviḥ | the oblation |
| brahma | Brahman |
| agnau | in the sacrificial fire |
| brahmaṇā | by that person |
| hutam | offered |
| brahma | Brahman |
| eva | certainly |
| tena | by that |
| gantavyam | to be attained |
| brahma | Brahman |
| karma | offering |
| samādhinā | those completely absorbed in God-consciousness |
Translation
Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the melted butter (ghee); by Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman; Brahman indeed shall be attained by one who always sees Brahman in action.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse teaches that the entire act of offering in a ritual is itself divine: the giver, the gift, the medium, and the goal are all Brahman. In other words, everything involved in action is an expression of the same sacred reality.
Spiritually, it says do not reject action; instead perform it as an offering to the divine. When you act with steady God-consciousness—seeing every part of the work as sacred—you move toward unity with that reality.
The main point is inner attitude, not the external ritual. Seeing work as worship removes ego and attachment, and brings calm, clear purpose.
Life Application
- Before a task, quietly dedicate it to something larger than yourself (silently say it is an offering). This shifts your focus from self to service.
- Do your work with full attention and without clutching the result. Do what is right and let outcomes be.
- Treat people and things you interact with as expressions of the same life; act with respect and care.
Reflection Question
How would your next routine task change if you truly treated it as an offering to the divine?