Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 9
Discourse 9: The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Mystery
Translated by Annie Besant (1922 4th edition, public domain), 1885. Public domain.
- 9.1
श्रीभगवानुवाच । इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे । ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्
śrībhagavānuvāca | idaṃ tu te guhyatamaṃ pravakṣyāmyanasūyave | jñānaṃ vijñānasahitaṃ yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt
The Blessed Lord said: To thee, the uncarping, verily shall I declare this profoundest Secret, wisdom with knowledge combined, which, having known, thou shalt be freed from evil.
- 9.2
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् । प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्
rājavidyā rājaguhyaṃ pavitramidamuttamam | pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ susukhaṃ kartumavyayam
Kingly Science, kingly Secret, supreme Purifier, this; intuitional, according to righteousness, very easy to perform, imperishable.
- 9.3
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप । अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa | aprāpya māṃ nivartante mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani
Men without faith in this knowledge, O Parantapa, not reaching Me, return to the paths of this world of death.
- 9.4
मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना । मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः
mayā tatamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadavyaktamūrtinā | matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na cāhaṃ teṣvavasthitaḥ
By Me all this world is pervaded in My unmanifested aspect; all beings have root in Me, I am not rooted in them.
- 9.5
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 have beings root in Me; behold My sovereign Yoga! The support of beings, yet not rooted in beings, My Self their efficient cause.
- 9.6
यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान् । तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय
yathā''kāśasthito nityaṃ vāyuḥ sarvatrago mahān | tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānītyupadhāraya
As the mighty air everywhere moving is rooted in the Ether, so all beings rest rooted in Me—thus know thou.
- 9.7
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् । कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्
sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām | kalpakṣaye punastāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham
All beings, O Kaunteya, enter my lower nature at the end of a world-age; at the beginning of a world-age again I emanate them.
- 9.8
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः । भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्
prakṛtiṃ svāmavaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ | bhūtagrāmamimaṃ kṛtsnamavaśaṃ prakṛtervaśāt
Hidden in Nature, which is mine own, I emanate again and again all this multitude of beings, helpless, by the force of Nature.
- 9.9
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय । उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु
na ca māṃ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya | udāsīnavadāsīnamasaktaṃ teṣu karmasu
Nor do these works bind me, O Dhananjaya, enthroned on high unattached to actions.
- 9.10
मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् । हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते
mayā'dhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram | hetunā'nena kaunteya jagadviparivartate
Under Me as supervisor, Nature sends forth the moving and unmoving: because of this, O Kaunteya, the universe revolves.
- 9.11
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् । परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्
avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam | paraṃ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram
The foolish disregard Me, when clad in human semblance, ignorant of My supreme nature, the great Lord of beings;
- 9.12
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः । राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः
moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ | rākṣasīmāsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ
Empty of hope, empty of deeds, empty of wisdom, senseless, partaking of the deceitful, brutal and demoniacal nature.
- 9.13
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः । भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्
mahātmānastu māṃ pārtha daivīṃ prakṛtimāśritāḥ | bhajantyananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam
Verily the Mahâtmâs, O Partha, partaking of My divine nature, worship with unwavering mind, having known Me, the imperishable source of beings.
- 9.14
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः । नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते
satataṃ kīrtayanto māṃ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ | namasyantaśca māṃ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate
- 9.15
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते । एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्
jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate | ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham
Always magnifying Me, strenuous, firm in vows, prostrating themselves before Me, they worship Me with devotion ever harmonised. (14 ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते । एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् ॥ १५ ॥ Others also, sacrificing with the sacrifice of wisdom, worship Me as the One and the Manifold everywhere present.
- 9.16
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम् । मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्
ahaṃ kraturahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhā'hamahamauṣadham | mantro'hamahamevājyamahamagnirahaṃ hutam
I the ablation; I the sacrifice; I the ancestral offering; I the fire-giving herb; the mantram I; I also the butter; I the fire; the burnt-offering I;
- 9.17
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः । वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च
pitā'hamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ | vedyaṃ pavitramoṅkāra ṛk sāma yajureva ca
I the Father of this universe, the Mother, the Supporter, the Grandsire, the Holy one to be known, the Word of Power, and also the Rik, Sâma, and Yajur,
- 9.18
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् । प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्
gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt | prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ nidhānaṃ bījamavyayam
The Path, Husband, Lord, Witness, Abode, Shelter, Lover, Origin, Dissolution, Foundation, house, Seed imperishable.
- 9.19
तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च । अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन
tapāmyahamahaṃ varṣaṃ nigṛhṇāmyutsṛjāmi ca | amṛtaṃ caiva mṛtyuśca sadasaccāhamarjuna
I give heat; I hold back and send forth the rain; immortality and also death, being and non-being am I, Arjuna.
- 9.20
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापाः यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते । ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकमश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्
traividyā māṃ somapāḥ pūtapāpāḥ yajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṃ prārthayante | te puṇyamāsādya surendralokamaśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān
The knowers of the three, the Soma-drinkers, the purified from sin, worshipping Me with sacrifice, pray of Me the way to heaven; they, ascending to the holy world of the Ruler of the Shining Ones, eat in heaven the divine feasts of the Shining Ones.
- 9.21
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालम् क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति । एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्नाः गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते
te taṃ bhuktvā svargalokaṃ viśālam kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti | evaṃ trayīdharmamanuprapannāḥ gatāgataṃ kāmakāmā labhante
They, having enjoyed the spacious heaven-world, their holiness withered, come back to this world of death. Following the virtues enjoined by the three, desiring desires, they obtain the transitory.
- 9.22
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्
ananyāścintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate | teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham
To those men who worship Me alone thinking of no other, to those ever harmonious, I bring full security.
- 9.23
येऽप्यन्यदेवताभक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः । तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्
ye'pyanyadevatābhaktā yajante śraddhayā'nvitāḥ | te'pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam
Even the devotees of other Shining Ones, who worship full of faith, they also worship Me, O son of Kuntî, though contrary to the ancient rule.
- 9.24
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च । न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते
ahaṃ hi sarvayajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhureva ca | na tu māmabhijānanti tattvenātaścyavanti te
I am indeed the enjoyer of all sacrifices and also the Lord, but they know Me not in Essence, and hence they fall.
- 9.25
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः । भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्
yānti devavratā devān pitṝnyānti pitṛvratāḥ | bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino'pi mām
They who worship the Shining Ones go to the Shining Ones; to the Ancestors go the Ancestor-worshippers; to the Elements go those who sacrifice to Elementals; but My worshippers come unto Me.
- 9.26
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati | tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
He who offereth to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water, that I accept from the striving self, offered as it is with devotion.
- 9.27
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् । यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्
yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat | yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam
Whatsoever thou doest, whatsoever thou eatest, whatsoever thou offerest, whatsoever thou givest, whatsoever thou doest of austerity, O Kaunteya, do thou that as an offering unto Me.
- 9.28
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः । संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि
śubhāśubhaphalairevaṃ mokṣyase karmabandhanaiḥ | saṃnyāsayogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaiṣyasi
Thus shalt thou be liberated from the bonds of action, yielding good and evil fruits; thyself harmonised by the yoga of renunciation, thou shalt come unto Me when set free.
- 9.29
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
The same am I to all beings; there is none hateful to Me nor dear. They verily who worship Me with devotion, they are in Me, and I also in them.
- 9.30
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 worship Me, with undivided heart, he too must be accounted righteous, for he hath rightly resolved;
- 9.31
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति । कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति
kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṃ nigacchati | kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati
Speedily he becometh dutiful and goeth to eternal peace; O Kaunteya, know thou for certain that My devotee perisheth never.
- 9.32
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
They who take refuge with Me, O Partha, though of the womb of sin, women, Vaishyas, even Shûdras, they also tread the highest path.
- 9.33
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा । अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्
kiṃ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayastathā | anityamasukhaṃ lokamimaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām
How much rather then holy Brâhmanas and devoted royal saints; having obtained this transient joyless world, worship thou Me.
- 9.34
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु । मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः
manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru | māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivamātmānaṃ matparāyaṇaḥ
On Me fix thy mind, be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me; prostrate thyself before Me; harmonised thus in the Self, thou shalt come unto Me, having Me as thy supreme goal.