Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 9 · Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 9.23 येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः
श्लोक 9.23
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः ।
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ॥
ye'pyanyadevatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ |
te'pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कौन्तेय! जो भक्त श्रद्धा के साथ दूसरे देवताओं की पूजा करते हैं, वे भी वास्तव में मेरी ही पूजा करते हैं, परंतु उचित विधि से नहीं।
Meaning in English
Even those devoted to other gods who worship them with faith are in fact worshipping me alone, O Kaunteya, though not in the proper way.
Bhagavad Gita 9.23 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ये अपि | ye api | even those who |
| अन्यदेवताभक्ताः | anya-devatā-bhaktāḥ | devotees of other deities |
| यजन्ते | yajante | worship |
| श्रद्धया अन्विताः | śraddhayā anvitāḥ | endowed with faith |
| ते अपि | te api | they too |
| माम् एव | mām eva | me alone |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| यजन्ति | yajanti | worship |
| अविधिपूर्वकम् | avidhi-pūrvakam | without proper understanding, not by the true method |
Explanation
Even those who are devoted to other deities and worship them with faith, O son of Kunti, are really worshipping me alone, though not in the proper way. All sincere worship reaches the one God, though the worshipper may not know it.
This verse is often cited as an expression of Hindu inclusiveness: all sincere worship reaches the one God. Krishna does not condemn faithful worship of other gods; he says it ultimately goes to him. Yet he adds avidhi-purvakam, not according to right understanding, because such worshippers do not know who truly receives it. Shankara takes avidhi as ignorance of the Lord as the real recipient. Ramanuja and Madhva hold that the gods are the Lord's body or servants, so worship of them reaches him but yields only limited results, as 7.20–23 also said.
भावार्थ
हे कौन्तेय, जो भक्त श्रद्धा से युक्त होकर दूसरे देवताओं की पूजा करते हैं, वे भी मेरी ही पूजा करते हैं, परन्तु अविधिपूर्वक अर्थात् मेरे तत्त्व को न जानकर। सच्ची श्रद्धा से की गई हर पूजा मुझ तक पहुँचती है।
Living it today
Respect the sincere faith of others. All honest prayer travels further than we can see.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 9.23?
Even those who are devoted to other deities and worship them with faith, O son of Kunti, are really worshipping me alone, though not in the proper way. All sincere worship reaches the one God, though the worshipper may not know it.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 9.23?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 9.23 in daily life?
Respect the sincere faith of others. All honest prayer travels further than we can see.
Reflected on verse 9.23?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.