9. King of Sciences

Rāja Vidyā Yog

BG 9.1 - 34

Verse 1

श्री भगवानुवाच
इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे
ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्


Krishna said: I will now reveal to you, doubtless one, the most secret of knowledge which will liberate you from the misery of material existence.

Commentary

Verse 2

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्

This transcendental knowledge is the king of sciences, the ultimate secret, the perfection of religion, and can be understood by direct experience.

Commentary

Verse 3

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि

Those who are without faith do not obtain this knowledge of Dharma. They remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death in this material world.

Commentary

Verse 4

मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना
मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः

This entire universe is pervaded by me in unmanifest form. All living beings are within me, yet I am not confined within them.

Commentary

Verse 5

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

Nevertheless, everything that is created does not rest in me. Such is my mystic opulence, that though I am the cause and upholder of all, I am not a part of it.

Commentary

Verse 6

यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान्
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय

Just as the wind is always situated in the great sky, blowing in all directions, all created beings are situated in me - try to understand this.

Commentary

Verse 7

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्

At the end of every cosmic cycle, all beings return into nature, and at the beginning of another, I create them again.

Commentary

Verse 8

प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्

Under my will, the cosmic order is manifested again and again, and under my will it is annihilated in the end.

Commentary

Verse 9

न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय
उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु

This work does not bind me - I am ever detached from these material activities, situated in equanimity.

Commentary

Verse 10

मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम्
हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते

Nature works under my direction to produce all moving and stationary things, and is the reason for everything in this cosmic manifestation.

Commentary

Verse 11

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्
परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्

Fools ignore me when they see me in human form. They do not know my transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of everything.

Commentary

Verse 12

मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः

Their hopes are futile, their actions are useless, and their knowledge is ineffective. They are demonic and godless.

Commentary

Verse 13

महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्

The great souls who have taken refuge in my divine nature render service without hesitation, knowing me as the imperishable source of everything.

Commentary

Verse 14

सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते

They are diligent in chanting my name, are determined in showing their respect for me, and remain perpetually engaged in worship.

Commentary

Verse 15

ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्

There are also others who worship me through the cultivation of knowledge. They worship me as the oneness in duality and diversity, and by my diverse cosmic manifestations.

Commentary

Verse 16

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्
मंत्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्

I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, and I am the offering. I am the medicinal herb and melted butter that is offered to the fire.

Commentary

Verse 17

पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः
वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च

I am the father, mother, guardian, and grandfather of this universe. I am the object of knowledge, the purifying syllable Om, and the sacred scriptures.

Commentary

Verse 18

गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the home, the shelter, and the trusted friend. I am the creation and I am the destruction. I am the basis of everything and the eternal seed.

Commentary

Verse 19

तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च
अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन

I give heat and withhold rain. I am death and immortality, being and non-being.

Commentary

Verse 20

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



Those pious souls who study the Vedas, drink the Soma juice, worship me with sacrifice and pray for passage to heaven, will enjoy the celestial pleasures of gods.

Commentary

Verse 21

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



When they have enjoyed the vastness of heaven, having exhausted the result of their pious activities, they fall back to the mortal realm. Thus, those who seek sensual pleasure by only adhering to Vedic principles only achieve the cycle of birth and death.

Commentary

Verse 22

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्

If a person meditates on me and me alone, I will look after their prosperity and welfare.

Commentary

Verse 23

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्

Even those who are devotees of other gods, and worship them with faith, worship me alone, albeit in an incorrect manner.

Commentary

Verse 24

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

For I am the only enjoyer, the Lord of all sacrifices. They do not recognize me, so they turn away.

Commentary

Verse 25

यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितृ़न्यान्ति पितृव्रताः
भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्

Those who worship the gods, go to the gods. Those who worship the ancestors, go to the ancestors. But only those who worship me shall come to me.

Commentary

Verse 26

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः

Whatever one may offer, be it a leaf, flower, fruit, or water, I accept it, for it is offered with devotion and a pure mind.

Commentary

Verse 27

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever charity you perform, whatever austerity you practice - do all these as an offering to me.

Commentary

Verse 28

शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि

You shall be free from bondage to the fruit of your actions, thus liberating yourself from bondage to action, and freeing yourself to come to me.

Commentary

Verse 29

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

I am the same to all beings - there are none I favor, and none I detest. But those who worship me with devotion, they exist within me, and I too exist within them.

Commentary

Verse 30

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः

Even if the most sinful person were to worship me with undivided devotion, they should be regarded as righteous, for they have resolved to follow righteousness.

Commentary

Verse 31

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति

Such a person will quickly become righteous and attain eternal peace. Arjuna, believe me, my devotees are never lost.

Commentary

Verse 32

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

Even those of sinful birth, women, laborers, and outcastes, all attain the supreme state by taking refuge in me.

Commentary

Verse 33

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्

What need is there to mention the holy priests, devoted sages, and earthly rulers? In this transient and miserable world, one should worship me with devotion.

Commentary

Verse 34

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः

Focus your mind on me, be my devotee, sacrifice for me, and surrender to me. By engaging your mind in this manner and regarding me as the supreme goal, you will certainly attain me.

Commentary

Next chapter

10. Infinite Manifestations of God

Vibhūti Yog
Chapter 9