Chapter 9

Raja Vidya Yoga

राजविद्याराजगुह्ययोग

Rāja Vidyā Yog•“Yoga through the King of Sciences”•34 Verses

A Reading - Rantideb

Chapter 8 ended by ranking real understanding above ritual performed without it. Chapter 9 opens with Krishna calling this the most confidential knowledge yet, then spends the chapter describing how he pervades and sustains everything while remaining unattached to any of it, and how devotion offered to him is never lost, however small. Why this matters: it addresses a real, common fear, that your effort toward something meaningful needs to be large or impressive to count, when the actual claim here is the opposite, even a leaf, a flower, or water offered with real devotion is received completely. In life, this is the chapter for anyone quietly assuming their small, unglamorous daily effort toward something they care about doesn't really matter compared to some grander gesture they haven't made yet. The teaching is that sincerity of a small offering matters more than the scale of a large one, which changes how you might think about the modest, consistent things you're already doing.

Chapter Summary

The ninth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Raja Vidya Yoga". In this chapter, Krishna explains that He is Supreme and how this material existence is created, maintained and destroyed by His Yogmaya and all beings come and go under his supervision. He reveals the Role and the Importance of Bhakti (transcendental devotional service) towards our Spiritual Awakening. In such devotion, one must live for the God, offer everything that he possesses to Him and do everything for Him only. One who follows such devotion becomes free from the bonds of this material world and unites with the Lord.

Verses in this Chapter (34)

Verse 1

श्री भगवानुवाच इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे। ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्।।9.1।।

The Lord said, "I shall declare to you, who does not cavil, this most mysterious knowledge, together with its special knowledge, knowing which you will be freed from evil."

Verse 2

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्। प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्।।9.2।।

This is the royal science, the royal mystery, the supreme purifier. It is realized through direct experience, is in accord with Dharma, is pleasant to practice, and is abiding.

Verse 3

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप। अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि।।9.3।।

Men devoid of faith in this Dharma, O scorcher of foes, ever remain without attaining Me, on the mortal path of Samsara.

Verse 4

मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना। मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः।।9.4।।

This entire universe is pervaded by Me, in an unmanifest form. All beings abide in Me, but I do not abide in them.

Verse 5

न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्। भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः।।9.5।।

Yet, beings do not remain in Me. Behold My divine Yoga. I am the sustainer of all beings, yet I am not in them. It is My will alone that causes their existence.

Verse 6

यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान्। तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय।।9.6।।

As the powerful element air, moving everywhere, ever remains in the ether, know that so too all beings abide in Me.

Verse 7

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्। कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्।।9.7।।

All beings, O Arjuna, enter into My Prakriti at the end of a cycle of time; again, I send them forth at the beginning of a cycle of time.

Verse 8

प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः। भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्।।9.8।।

Controlling the Prakṛti, which is My own, I send forth again and again this multitude of beings, helpless under the sway of Prakṛti.

Verse 9

न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय। उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु।।9.9।।

But these actions do not bind Me, O Arjuna, for I remain detached from them, as if I were unconcerned.

Verse 10

मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम्। हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते।।9.10।।

Under My supervision, Prakrti gives birth to all mobile and immobile entities, and thus, O Arjuna, the world revolves.

Verse 11

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्। परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्।।9.11।।

Fools disregard Me, dwelling in a human form, not knowing My higher nature as the Supreme Lord of all beings.

Verse 12

मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः। राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः।।9.12।।

Senseless people have a nature that is deluding and similar to that of rakshasas and asuras. Their hopes are futile, their actions are futile, and their knowledge is futile.

Verse 13

महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः। भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्।।9.13।।

But the great-souled ones, O Arjuna, who are associated with My divine nature, worship Me with an unwavering mind, knowing Me to be the immutable source of all beings.

Verse 14

सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः। नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते।।9.14।।

Aspiring for eternal communion with Me, they worship Me, always singing My praises, striving with steadfast resolution and bowing down to Me in devotion.

Verse 15

ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते। एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्।।9.15।।

Others, besides offering the sacrifice of knowledge, also worship Me as One, who is characterized by diversity in countless ways and is multiform (in My Cosmic aspect).

Verse 16

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्। मंत्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्।।9.16।।

I am Kratu, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering to the manes, I am the herb, I am the Mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, I am the oblation.

Verse 17

पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः। वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च।।9.17।।

I am the father, mother, creator, and grandfather of the universe; I am the purifier. I am the syllable Om, as well as Rk, Saman, and Yajus.

Verse 18

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्। प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्।।9.18।।

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the friend. I am the origin, the dissolution, the basis for preservation, and the imperishable seed.

Verse 19

तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च। अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन।।9.19।।

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

Verse 20

त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते। ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक मश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्।।9.20।।

Those who are versed in the three Vedas, having been purified from sin by drinking the Soma juice, pray for passage to heaven and worship Me through sacrifices. Reaching the holy realm of the chief of the gods, they enjoy celestial pleasures in heaven.

Verse 21

ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति। एव त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते।।9.21।।

Having enjoyed the spacious world of heaven, they return to the world of mortals, their merit having been exhausted. Thus, those who follow the Vedic rituals and are drawn by desires come and go.

Verse 22

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते। तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।9.22।।

Those who, excluding all else, think of Me and worship Me, aspiring after eternal union with Me, I look after their prosperity and welfare (Yoga and Ksema).

Verse 23

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्।।9.23।।

Even those who are devoted to other divinities with faith in their hearts, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, though not in accordance with the Sastras.

Verse 24

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च। न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते।।9.24।।

For, I am the only enjoyer and the only Lord of all sacrifices. They do not recognize Me in My true nature; hence, they fall.

Verse 25

यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितृ़न्यान्ति पितृव्रताः। भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्।।9.25।।

Devotees of gods go to the gods; manes-worshippers go to the manes; worshippers of Bhutas go to the Bhutas; and those who worship Me come to Me.

Verse 26

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति। तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः।।9.26।।

Whoever offers Me with true devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or some water, I accept this offering made with devotion by them who are pure of heart.

Verse 27

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्। यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्।।9.27।।

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer, whatever you give away, whatever austerity you practice, O Arjuna, do that as an offering to Me.

Verse 28

शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः। संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि।।9.28।।

Thus equipped in mind with the Yoga of renunciation, you will free yourself from the bonds of Karma, productive of both auspicious and inauspicious fruits. Thus liberated, you will come to Me.

Verse 29

समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः। ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्।।9.29।।

I am the same to all creation; there is none hateful or dear to me. But those who worship me with devotion abide in me, and I in them.

Verse 30

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्। साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः।।9.30।।

If even the most sinful man worships Me with undivided devotion, he should be regarded as holy, for he has rightly resolved.

Verse 31

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति। कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति।।9.31।।

Quickly, he becomes righteous and obtains everlasting peace. Affirm on My behalf, O Arjuna, that My devotee never perishes.

Verse 32

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः। स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम्।।9.32।।

By taking refuge in Me, even those of evil birth, women, Vaisyas, and Sudras, attain the supreme state.

Verse 33

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा। अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्।।9.33।।

How much more then, for the pure Brahmanas and royal sages who are My devotees! Having obtained this transient and joyless world, they should worship Me.

Verse 34

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु। मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः।।9.34।।

Focus your mind on Me, be My devotee, worship Me. Bow down to Me. Engaging your mind in this manner and regarding Me as the supreme goal, you will come to Me.

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Verses

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