Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 9 of 18 · 34 verses
The Royal Secret
Rāja Vidyā Rāja Guhya Yoga
What this chapter teaches
The supreme secret of devotion: even the humblest offering — a leaf, flower, fruit, water — given with sincere love reaches the Divine. All paths lead back to the Source.
Chapter 9 contains the most intimate revelation in the Gita — the 'royal science and royal secret.' Krishna declares that he pervades all existence without being contained by it (like wind in space). All beings rest in him, yet he is not diminished by them. The chapter culminates in the extraordinary universal promise of verses 9.26-28 and the inclusive grace of verse 9.32, where Krishna says that even those born of sinful wombs — women, vaishyas, shudras — who take refuge in him reach the highest goal.
All 34 verses — Sanskrit, transliteration, English
श्री भगवानुवाच इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे। ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्॥
śrī bhagavānuvāca idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ pravakṣyāmyanasūyave | jñānaṁ vijñānasahitaṁ yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt ||
The Blessed Lord said However, to you who are not given to cavilling I shall speak of this highest secret itself, which is Knowledge [Jnana may mean Brahman that is Consciousness, or Its knowledge gathered from the Vedas (paroksa-jnana). Vijnana is direct experience (aparoksa-jnana).] combined with experience, by realizing which you shall be free from evil.
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्। प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्॥
rājavidyā rājaguhyaṁ pavitramidamuttamam | pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ susukhaṁ kartumavyayam ||
This is the Sovereign Knowledge, the Sovereign Profundity, the best sanctifire; directly realizable, righteous, very easy to practise and imperishable.
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप। अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि॥
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa | aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyusaṁsāravartmani ||
O destroyer of foes, persons who are regardless of this Dharma (knowledge of the Self) certainly go round and round, without reaching Me, along the path of transmigration which is fraught with death.
मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना। मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः॥
mayā tatamidaṁ sarvaṁ jagadavyaktamūrtinā | matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na cāhaṁ teṣvavasthitaḥ ||
This whole world is prevaded by Me in My unmanifest form. All beings exist in Me, but I am not contained in 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 the beings dwell in Me. Behod My divine Yoga! I am the sustainer and originator of beings, but My Self is not contained in the beings.
यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान्। तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय॥
yathā''kāśasthito nityaṁ vāyuḥ sarvatrago mahān | tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānītyupadhāraya ||
Understand thus that just as the voluminous wind moving everywhere is ever present in space, similarly all beings abide in Me.
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्। कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्॥
sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām | kalpakṣaye punastāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham ||
O son Kunti, all the beings go back at the end of a cycle to My Prakrti. I project them forth again at the beginning of a cycle.
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः। भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्॥
prakṛtiṁ svāmavaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ | bhūtagrāmamimaṁ kṛtsnamavaśaṁ prakṛtervaśāt ||
Keeping My own prakrti under control, I project forth again and again the whole of this multitude of beings which are powerless owing to the influence of (their own) nature.
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय। उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु॥
na ca māṁ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya | udāsīnavadāsīnamasaktaṁ teṣu karmasu ||
O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), nor do those actions bind Me, remaining (as I do) like one unconcerned with, and unattached to, those actions.
मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम्। हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते॥
mayā'dhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram | hetunā'nena kaunteya jagadviparivartate ||
Under Me as the supervisor, the Prakrti produces (the world) of the moving and the non-moving things. Owing to this reason, O son of Kunti, the world revolves.
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्। परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्॥
avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanumāśritam | paraṁ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram ||
Not knowing My supreme nature as the Lord of all beings, foolish people disregard Me who have taken a human body.
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः। राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः॥
moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ | rākṣasīmāsurīṁ caiva prakṛtiṁ mohinīṁ śritāḥ ||
Of vain hopes, of vain actions, of vain knowledge, and senseless, they become verily possessed of the deceptive disposition of fiends and demons.
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः। भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्॥
mahātmānastu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtimāśritāḥ | bhajantyananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam ||
O son of Prtha, the noble ones, being possessed of divine nature, surely adore Me with single-mindedness, knowing Me as the immutable source of all objects.
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः। नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते॥
satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ | namasyantaśca māṁ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate ||
Always glorifying Me and striving, the men of firm vows worship Me by paying obeisance to Me and being ever endowed with devotion.
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते। एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्॥
jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate | ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||
Others verily worship Me by adoring exclusively through the sacrifice of the knowledge of oneness; (others worship Me) multifariously, and (others) as the multiformed existing variously.
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्। मंत्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्॥
ahaṁ kraturahaṁ yajñaḥ svadhā'hamahamauṣadham | maṁtro'hamahamevājyamahamagnirahaṁ hutam ||
I am the kratu, I am the yajna, I am the svadha, I am the ausadha, I am the mantra, I Myself am the ajya, I am the fire, and I am the act of offering.
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः। वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च॥
pitā'hamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ | vedyaṁ pavitramoṁkāra ṛk sāma yajureva ca ||
Of this world I am the father, mother, ordainer, (and the), grand-father; I am the knowable, the sancitifier, the syllable Om as also Rk, Sama and Yajus.
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्। प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्॥
gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛt | prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījamavyayam ||
(I am) the fruit of actions, the nourisher, the Lord, witness, abode, refuge, friend, origin, end, foundation, store and the imperishable seed.
तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च। अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन॥
tapāmyahamahaṁ varṣaṁ nigṛhṇāmyutsṛjāmi ca | amṛtaṁ caiva mṛtyuśca sadasaccāhamarjuna ||
O Arjuna, I give heat, I withhold and pour down rain. I am verily the nectar, and also death existence and nonexistence.
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते। ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक मश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्॥
traividyā māṁ somapāḥ pūtapāpā yajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṁ prārthayante | te puṇyamāsādya surendraloka maśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān ||
Those who are versed in the Vedas, who are drinkers of Soma and are purified of sin, pray for the heavenly goal by worshipping Me through sacrifices. Having reached the place (world) of the king of gods, which is the result of righteousness, they enjoy in heaven th divine pleasure of gods.
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति। एव त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते॥
te taṁ bhuktvā svargalokaṁ viśālaṁ kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṁ viśanti | eva trayīdharmamanuprapannā gatāgataṁ kāmakāmā labhante ||
After having enjoyed that vast heavenly world, they enter into the human world on the exhaustion of their merit. Thus, those who follow the rites and duties prescribed in the three Vedas, and are desirous of pleasures, attain the state of going and returning.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते। तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
ananyāścintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate | teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yogakṣemaṁ vahāmyaham ||
For those who worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥
ye'pyanyadevatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayā'nvitāḥ | te'pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||
Even those who, being devoted to other deities and endowed with faith, worship (them), they also, O son of Kunti, worship Me alone (though) following the wrong method.
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च। न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते॥
ahaṁ hi sarvayajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhureva ca | na tu māmabhijānanti tattvenātaścyavanti te ||
I indeed am the enjoyer as also the Lord of all sacrifices; but they do not know Me in reality. Therefore they fall.
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितृ़न्यान्ति पितृव्रताः। भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्॥
yānti devavratā devān pitṛnyānti pitṛvratāḥ | bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino'pi mām ||
Votaries of the gods reach the gods; the votarites of the manes go to the manes; the worshippers of the Beings reach the Beings; and those who worship Me reach Me.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति। तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati | tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
Whoever offers Me with devotion-a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept that (gift) of the pure-hearted man which has been devotionally presented.
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्। यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥
yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat | yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam ||
O son of Kunti, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer as a sacrifice, whatever you give and whatever austerities you undertake, (all) that you offer to Me.
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः। संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि॥
śubhāśubhaphalairevaṁ mokṣyase karmabandhanaiḥ | saṁnyāsayogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaiṣyasi ||
Thus, you will become free from bondage in the form of actions which are productive of good and bad results. Havng your mind inbued with the yoga of renunciation and becoming free, you will attain Me.
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः। ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्॥
samo'haṁ sarvabhūteṣu na me dveṣyo'sti na priyaḥ | ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpyaham ||
I am impartial towards all beings; to Me there is none detastable or none dear. But those who worship Me with devotion, they exist in Me, and I too exist in them.
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्। साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः॥
api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk | sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagvyavasito hi saḥ ||
Even if a man of very bad conduct worships Me with one-pointed devotion, he is to be considered verily good; for he has resolved rightly.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति। कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति॥
kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṁ nigacchati | kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati ||
He soon becomes possessed of a virtuous mind; he attains everlasting peace. Do you proclain boldly, O son of Kunti, that My devotee does not get ruined.
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः। स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम्॥
māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye'pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ | striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrāste'pi yānti parāṁ gatim ||
For, O son of Prtha, even those who are born of sin-women, Vaisyas, as also Sudras [S.'s construction of this portion is: women, Vaisyas as also Sudras, and even others who are born of sin (i.e., those who are born low and are of vile deeds, viz Mlecchas, Pukkasas and others). M.S. also takes papa-yonayah (born of sin) as a separate phrase, and classifies women and others only as those darred from Vedic study, etc.-Tr.]-, even they reach the highest Goal by taking shelter under Me.
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा। अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्॥
kiṁ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayastathā | anityamasukhaṁ lokamimaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām ||
What to speak of the holy Brahmanas as also of devout kind-sages! Having come to this ephemeral and miserable world, do you worship Me.
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु। मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः॥
manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṁ namaskuru | māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivamātmānaṁ matparāyaṇaḥ ||
Having your mind fixed on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, and bow down to Me. By concentrating your mind and accepting Me as the supreme Goal, you shall surely attain Me who am thus the Self.
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