Yoga through the King of Sciences
Verse 9.23
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्।।9.23।।
ye ’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam
Word Meanings
ye—those who; api—although; anya—other; devatā—celestial gods; bhaktāḥ—devotees; yajante—worship; śhraddhayā anvitāḥ—faithfully; te—they; api—also; mām—me; eva—only; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; yajanti—worship; avidhi-pūrvakam—by the wrong method
Translation · English
Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, but by the wrong method.
Deep Meaning · English
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna expands the horizon of divine worship, revealing an inclusive vision of reality that transcends sectarian limitations. By stating that those who worship other deities with sincere faith are effectively worshiping Him, Krishna confirms that the Source, Sustainer, and Ultimate Goal of all existence is singular. The 'avidhi-pūrvakam' (the wrong method) is not a condemnation of the devotee's sincerity, but rather a gentle, pedagogical observation that such worship is directed toward fragmented manifestations rather than the Absolute Truth. Because there is nothing in existence that is not a vibration of the Divine, the seeker who prays to any form with genuine devotion is inherently connecting to the Supreme, even if they remain unaware of the underlying oneness. From an Advaitic perspective, this verse underscores that all 'gods' are merely rays of the one Sun; the limitation lies not in the object of worship, but in the finite understanding of the worshiper who perceives separation where there is none. Krishna calls Arjuna to look past the rituals and names to the singular Presence that animates every prayer. Ultimately, this teaching is an invitation to maturity, guiding the devotee from the worship of limited, temporal forms toward the conscious realization of the infinite, non-dual Self which remains the silent Witness and hidden recipient of every offering.
Sincere worship directed at any form eventually reaches the Supreme, though those who seek the Infinite through finite channels miss the deeper realization of the non-dual Truth.
Connected Verses
Krishna asserts that whatever is glorious or divine in the world is but a manifestation of a fraction of His splendor, justifying why all worship ultimately converges on Him.
This verse directly follows the current one, explaining that the ignorance of the Divine's true nature leads to temporary results, contrasting with the liberation found in knowing the Absolute.
This establishes that the Lord Himself strengthens the faith of whichever form the devotee chooses to worship, validating the sincerity of the seeker regardless of the deity.
Krishna declares that as people surrender to Him, He rewards them, noting that all paths—no matter the intention—eventually lead back to His own path.
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