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A Leaf, a Flower, a Fruit, Water

In Gita 9.26-29 the Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion, asks that every act be made an offering, promises freedom from the bonds of results, and is equal to all yet near to the devotee.

In brief

  • The Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion; the feeling counts, not the cost (9.26).
  • Whatever you do, eat, offer, give or practise is to be done as an offering (9.27).
  • Offering frees you from the bonds of both good and bad results and brings you to the Lord (9.28).
  • The Lord is equal to all beings, and yet devotees are in Him and He is in them (9.29).

What does the Lord want, and what can a person do who has only a small gift to give? These four verses of the ninth chapter answer. First, the Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion (Gita 9.26). Then the same request widens to the whole of life: whatever you do, eat, give or practise, make it an offering (Gita 9.27). Its fruit is freedom from the bonds of good and bad results (Gita 9.28). And in the end, the Lord is equal to all, yet near to the one who turns to Him in devotion (Gita 9.29).

This topic comes after The Steadfast Devotee and Divine Care on The Path of Devotion. There the Lord was seen carrying the devotee's load. Here the subject is what the devotee hands over.

The topic can be read in three ways. A simple reading starts from the question of a small gift in a busy day. A detailed reading takes the four verses in order, with an example and a practice. A deeper reading answers the hard objections and sets out the commentators' streams.

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Simple New to this topic. Plain words, one idea at a time. Does a Small Offering Reach God? What the Gita Says About a Leaf and Water The Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion. The gift need not be big (9.26). 6 min · Read → In Depth Know the basics. Verse by verse, with reasons. A Leaf, a Flower, a Fruit, Water: Gita 9.26-29 Verse by Verse The Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion; what counts is the devotion, not the cost of the gift (9.26). 14 min · Read → Deeper Want the text itself: Sanskrit terms, commentary, close reading. Gita 9.26-29, a Close Reading: Why Does the Lord Accept a Leaf? What reaches the Lord is not the thing offered but the devotion carried in it, so a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water is enough (9.26). 18 min · Read → Quick summary Short on time. The whole topic in a few minutes. A Leaf, a Flower, a Fruit, Water: Quick Summary The Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water offered with devotion; it is the devotion that counts, not the worth of the gift (9.26). 8 min · Read →

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