Bhagavad Gita 8.28 · Krishna
Beyond every good deed
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्।
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा
योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम्॥
vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva dāneṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭamatyeti tatsarvamidaṃ viditvā yogī paraṃ sthānamupaiti cādyam
Whatever merit is promised for scripture, offering, discipline and giving, the yogi who knows this goes beyond it all, to the first and highest home.
Words
- yajña
- tapas
What it means
Krishna ends the chapter. Studying scripture, performing yajna, offering, practising tapas, discipline, giving charity. All bring merit. But the yogi who truly understands goes beyond all of it, to the primal, highest home. Good deeds are wonderful. Knowing the One behind them is greater still.
The story
Arjuna has lived a life of duty, ritual and generosity. Krishna honours all of it, and then points past it. The goal isn't to collect merit. It's to come home.
In your life
Imagine a volunteer who stops counting hours and simply loves the people they serve. The love is greater than the tally. Today, do something good without keeping score.
Love goes beyond every good deed.