Chapter 9

श्री भगवानुवाच · śrī bhagavānuvāca

इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे।ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्॥

idaṃ tu te guhyatamaṃ pravakṣyāmyanasūyave |jñānaṃ vijñānasahitaṃ yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt ||

The Blessed Lord said, "I shall now declare to thee, who does not cavil, the greatest secret—the knowledge combined with experience (Self-realisation). Having known this, thou shalt be free from evil."

Lord Shri Krishna said: I will now reveal to you, since you do not doubt, that profound mysticism, which, when followed with experience, will liberate you from sin.

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्।प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्॥

rājavidyā rājaguhyaṃ pavitramidamuttamam |pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ susukhaṃ kartumavyayam ||

This is the royal science, the royal secret, the supreme purifier, realizable by direct intuitive knowledge, according to righteousness, very easy to perform and imperishable.

This is the supreme science, the supreme secret, the purest and best; it is intuitive, righteous, and to those who practice it, it is exceedingly pleasant.

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप।अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि॥

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa |aprāpya māṃ nivartante mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani ||

Those who have no faith in this Dharma, O Parantapa, return to the path of this world without attaining Me.

They who have no faith in this teaching cannot find Me; they remain lost in the purlieus of this perishable world.

मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना।मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः॥

mayā tatamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadavyaktamūrtinā |matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na cāhaṃ teṣvavasthitaḥ ||

All of this world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest aspect; all beings exist within Me, but I do not dwell within them.

The whole world is pervaded by Me, yet My form is not visible. All living beings have their being in Me, yet I am not confined by them.

न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्।भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः॥

na ca matsthāni bhūtāni paśya me yogamaiśvaram |bhūtabhṛnna ca bhūtastho mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ ||

Nor do beings exist in Me (in reality); behold, My divine Yoga, which supports all beings, but does not dwell in them, is My Self, the efficient cause of beings.

Nevertheless, they do not consciously abide in Me. Such is My Divine Sovereignty that, though I, the Supreme Self, am the cause and upholder of all, yet I remain outside.

यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान्।तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय॥

yathā''kāśasthito nityaṃ vāyuḥ sarvatrago mahān |tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānītyupadhāraya ||

As the mighty wind, moving everywhere, always rests in the ether, so too, know that all beings rest in Me.

As the mighty wind, though moving everywhere, has no resting place except in space, so all these beings have no home except in Me.

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्।कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्॥

sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām |kalpakṣaye punastāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham ||

All beings, O Arjuna, go into My Nature at the end of a Kalpa; I send them forth again at the beginning of the next Kalpa.

All beings, O Arjuna, return at the end of every cosmic cycle into the realm of Nature, which is a part of Me, and at the start of the next I send them forth again.

प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः।भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्॥

prakṛtiṃ svāmavaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ |bhūtagrāmamimaṃ kṛtsnamavaśaṃ prakṛtervaśāt ||

Animating My Nature, I again and again send forth all this multitude of beings, helpless under the force of Nature.

With the help of Nature, I again and again pour forth the whole multitude of beings, whether they will or not, for they are ruled by My will.

न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय।उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु॥

na ca māṃ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya |udāsīnavadāsīnamasaktaṃ teṣu karmasu ||

These acts do not bind Me, O Arjuna, sitting as one indifferent, unattached to those acts.

But these acts of mine do not bind me; I remain outside and unattached.

मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम्।हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते॥

mayā'dhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram |hetunā'nena kaunteya jagadviparivartate ||

Under Me, as supervisor, Nature produces the moving and the unmoving; therefore, O Arjuna, the world revolves.

Under my guidance, Nature produces all movable and immovable things. Thus, O Arjuna, this universe revolves.

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्।परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्॥

avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam |paraṃ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram ||

Fools disregard Me, clad in human form, not knowing My higher Being as the great Lord of all beings.

Fools disregard Me, seeing Me clad in human form. They do not know that in My higher nature, I am the Lord-God of all.

मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः।राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः॥

moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ |rākṣasīmāsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ ||

They are possessed of the deceitful nature of demons and undivine beings, filled with vain hopes, vain actions, and vain knowledge that is senseless.

Their hopes are futile, their actions worthless, their knowledge ineffective; they are without sense, deceitful, barbaric, and godless.

महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः।भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्॥

mahātmānastu māṃ pārtha daivīṃ prakṛtimāśritāḥ |bhajantyananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam ||

But the great souls, O Arjuna, partaking of My divine nature, worship Me with a single-minded devotion, knowing Me as the imperishable source of all beings.

But the great souls, O Arjuna! Filled with my divine spirit, they worship me, fix their minds on me alone, for they know that I am the imperishable source of being.

सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः।नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते॥

satataṃ kīrtayanto māṃ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ |namasyantaśca māṃ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate ||

Always glorifying Me, striving, firm in their vows, prostrating themselves before Me, they worship Me with steadfast devotion.

Always extolling Me, they are strenuous and firm in their vows, prostrating themselves before Me, and worshiping Me continually with concentrated devotion.

ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते।एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्॥

jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate |ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||

Others also, sacrificing with the wisdom-sacrifice, worship Me, the All-Faced, as one, distinct, and manifold.

Others worship Me with full consciousness as the One, the Manifold, the Omnipresent, and the Universal.

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्।मंत्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्॥

ahaṃ kraturahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhā'hamahamauṣadham |maṃtro'hamahamevājyamahamagnirahaṃ hutam ||

I am Kratu; I am Yajna; I am the offering to the manes; I am the medicinal herbs and all plants; I am the Mantra; I am also the ghee or melted butter; I am the fire; I am the oblation.

I am the oblation, the sacrifice, and the worship; I am the fuel and the chant; I am the butter offered to the fire; I am the fire itself, and I am the act of offering.

पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः।वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च॥

pitā'hamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ |vedyaṃ pavitramoṃkāra ṛk sāma yajureva ca ||

I am the father of this world, the mother, the dispenser of the fruits of actions, and the grandfather; the one thing to be known, the purifier, the sacred monosyllable (Om), and also the Rik, Sama, and Yajur Vedas.

I am the Father of the universe, its Mother, Nourisher, and Grandfather; I am the Knowable and the Pure; I am Om, and I am the Sacred Scriptures.

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्।प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्॥

gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt |prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ nidhānaṃ bījamavyayam ||

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the shelter, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house, and the imperishable seed.

I am the goal, the sustainer, the Lord, the witness, the home, the shelter, the lover, and the origin; I am life and death; I am the fountain and the imperishable seed.

तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च।अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन॥

tapāmyahamahaṃ varṣaṃ nigṛhṇāmyutsṛjāmi ca |amṛtaṃ caiva mṛtyuśca sadasaccāhamarjuna ||

As the sun, I give heat; I withhold and send forth the rain; I am immortality and also death, existence and non-existence, O Arjuna.

I am the heat of the sun, I release and withhold the rain. I am death and immortality; I am being and non-being.

त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापायज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते।ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकमश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्॥

traividyā māṃ somapāḥ pūtapāpāyajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṃ prārthayante |te puṇyamāsādya surendralokamaśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān ||

The knowers of the three Vedas, the drinkers of Soma, purified of all sins, worshipping Me through sacrifices, pray for the way to heaven; they reach the holy world of the Lord of the gods and enjoy the divine pleasures of the gods in heaven.

Those who are versed in the scriptures, who drink the mystic Soma-juice and are purified from sin, and who, while worshipping Me with sacrifices, pray that I will lead them to heaven; they reach the holy world where the Controller of the Powers of Nature resides, and they enjoy the feasts of Paradise.

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालंक्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति।एव त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्नागतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते॥

te taṃ bhuktvā svargalokaṃ viśālaṃkṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti |eva trayīdharmamanuprapannāgatāgataṃ kāmakāmā labhante ||

They, having enjoyed the vast heaven, enter the world of mortals when their merit is exhausted; thus abiding by the injunctions of the three (Vedas) and desiring objects of desires, they attain to the state of coming and going.

Yet, although they enjoy the spacious glories of Paradise, when their merit is exhausted, they are born again into this world of mortals. They have followed the letter of the scriptures, yet, because they have sought to fulfill their own desires, they must depart and return again and again.

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥

ananyāścintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate |teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham ||

For those men who worship Me alone, thinking of no one else, for those ever-united, I secure what they have not already possessed and preserve what they already possess.

But if a person meditates on Me and Me alone, worships Me always and everywhere, I will take upon Myself the fulfillment of their aspiration, and I will safeguard whatever they attain.

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥

ye'pyanyadevatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayā'nvitāḥ |te'pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||

Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, but by the wrong method.

Even those who worship the lesser powers, if they do so with faith, they are thereby worshipping Me, though not in the correct manner.

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च।न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते॥

ahaṃ hi sarvayajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhureva ca |na tu māmabhijānanti tattvenātaścyavanti te ||

For I alone am the enjoyer and Lord of all sacrifices; but they do not know Me in reality, and thus they return to this mortal world.

I am the willing recipient of sacrifice, and I am its true Lord. But they do not know me truly, so they fall back.

यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितृ़न्यान्ति पितृव्रताः।भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्॥

yānti devavratā devān pitṛnyānti pitṛvratāḥ |bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino'pi mām ||

The worshippers of the gods go to them; the ancestor-worshippers go to the manes; the worshippers of the deities who preside over the elements go to them; but My devotees come to Me.

The votaries of the lesser powers go to them; the devotees of spirits go to them; they who worship the powers of darkness, to such powers shall they go; and so too, those who worship me shall come to me.

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥

patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati |tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||

Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or a little water, that, so offered devotedly by the pure-minded, I accept.

Whatever a person offers to Me, be it a leaf, flower, fruit, or water, I accept it, for it is offered with devotion and a pure mind.

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्।यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥

yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat |yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam ||

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give, whatever austerity you practice, O Arjuna, do it as an offering to Me.

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you sacrifice and give, whatever austerities you practice, do all as an offering to Me.

शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः।संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि॥

śubhāśubhaphalairevaṃ mokṣyase karmabandhanaiḥ |saṃnyāsayogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaiṣyasi ||

Thus, you shall be freed from the bonds of actions yielding good and evil fruits; with the mind steadfast in the Yoga of renunciation, and liberated, you shall come to Me.

So, your action will have no result, either good or bad; but, through the spirit of renunciation, you will come to Me and be free.

समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः।ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्॥

samo'haṃ sarvabhūteṣu na me dveṣyo'sti na priyaḥ |ye bhajanti tu māṃ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpyaham ||

I am the same to all beings; there is none hateful or dear to Me; but those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I am also in them.

I am the same to all beings; I do not favour any, nor do I hate any. However, those who worship Me devotedly, they live in Me and I in them.

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्।साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः॥

api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk |sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagvyavasito hi saḥ ||

Even if the most sinful worships Me, with devotion to no one else, he should indeed be regarded as righteous, for he has rightly resolved.

Even the most sinful, if he worships Me with his whole heart, shall be considered righteous, for he is treading the right path.

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति।कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति॥

kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṃ nigacchati |kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati ||

Soon he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace; O Arjuna, proclaim thou for certain that My devotee never perishes.

He will soon attain spirituality and eternal peace. O Arjuna! Believe me, my devotee is never lost.

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः।स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम्॥

māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye'pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ |striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrāste'pi yānti parāṃ gatim ||

For, taking refuge in Me, they who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth—women, Vaisyas, and Sudras—attain the Supreme Goal.

Even the children of sinful parents, those miscalled the weaker sex, merchants, and laborers, if they make Me their refuge, they shall attain the highest.

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा।अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्॥

kiṃ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayastathā |anityamasukhaṃ lokamimaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām ||

How much more easily, then, do Brahmins and devoted royal saints attain the goal? Having come to this impermanent and unhappy world, do thou worship Me.

What need is there, then, to mention the holy ministers of God, the devotees, and the saintly rulers? Therefore, do you, born in this changing and miserable world, also worship Me.

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु।मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः॥

manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru |māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivamātmānaṃ matparāyaṇaḥ ||

Fix your mind on Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me; bow down to Me; having thus united your whole self to Me, taking Me as the supreme goal, you will come to Me.

Fix your mind on Me, devote yourself to Me, sacrifice for Me, surrender to Me, make Me the object of your aspirations, and you shall assuredly become one with Me, Who am your own Self.