Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 9 · Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 9.15 ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते
श्लोक 9.15
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते ।
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् ॥
jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate |
ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कुछ अन्य लोग ज्ञान रूपी यज्ञ से मेरी उपासना करते हैं; कोई मुझे एक मानकर, कोई अलग मानकर और कोई सब ओर मुख वाले के रूप में अनेक प्रकार से।
Meaning in English
Others worship me through the offering of knowledge: some as the One, some as distinct from themselves, and others in many ways, as the One whose faces are everywhere.
Bhagavad Gita 9.15 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ज्ञानयज्ञेन | jñāna-yajñena | by the sacrifice of knowledge |
| च अपि | ca api | and also |
| अन्ये | anye | others |
| यजन्तः | yajantaḥ | offering worship |
| माम् | mām | me |
| उपासते | upāsate | worship |
| एकत्वेन | ekatvena | as one, in oneness |
| पृथक्त्वेन | pṛthaktvena | as distinct |
| बहुधा | bahudhā | in many ways |
| विश्वतोमुखम् | viśvato-mukham | whose face is everywhere |
Explanation
Others worship me through the offering of knowledge: some as the One, some as distinct from themselves, and others in many forms, as the one whose face is turned in every direction. The one God is approached in several genuine ways.
This verse famously makes room for several approaches. Some worship God through knowledge as the one Self (ekatvena); some as a Lord distinct from themselves (prithaktvena); some in the many forms of the universe. Shankara sees here a hierarchy, with the non-dual vision as highest. Ramanuja and Madhva read the three ways as different aspects of meditation on the one Lord, who is related to everything as soul to body. Modern teachers like Vivekananda took the verse as scriptural support for the harmony of different paths.
भावार्थ
कुछ अन्य ज्ञानयज्ञ के द्वारा मेरा पूजन करते हुए मेरी उपासना करते हैं — कोई अभेद भाव से, कोई भेद भाव से, और कोई अनेक रूपों में मुझ विश्वरूप परमेश्वर की।
Living it today
People approach the divine in many honest ways. Respect paths different from yours; they may lead to the same truth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 9.15?
Others worship me through the offering of knowledge: some as the One, some as distinct from themselves, and others in many forms, as the one whose face is turned in every direction. The one God is approached in several genuine ways.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 9.15?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 9.15 in daily life?
People approach the divine in many honest ways. Respect paths different from yours; they may lead to the same truth.
Reflected on verse 9.15?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.