Bhagavad Gita 9.23

Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · English Translation

Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, b the wrong method.

Sanskrit

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ||९-२३||

Transliteration

ye.apyanyadevatābhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ . te.api māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||9-23||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna, revealing that anyone who worships other deities with genuine faith is actually worshiping Him alone, though they do so unknowingly or indirectly. The core teaching is that the Divine One is the singular source behind all forms of divinity; thus, devotion directed elsewhere ultimately reaches the Supreme God. However, Krishna notes this path as 'improper' (avidhipūrvakam) because it involves a limited understanding rather than direct recognition of His supreme nature.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse belongs to the synthesis of Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion) and Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge), bridging the gap between ritualistic worship and non-dual realization. It develops the Vedantic concept that while forms are diverse, the underlying essence (Brahman or Krishna) is singular; thus, all valid devotion, even if directed elsewhere due to ignorance, inevitably culminates in union with the Supreme.

Word by Word

ये who, अपि even, अन्यदेवताः other gods, भक्ताः devotees, यजन्ते worship, श्रद्धया with faith, अन्विताः endowed, ते they, अपि also, माम् Me, एव alone, कौन्तेय O Kaunteya, यजन्ति worship, अविधिपूर्वकम् by the wrong method

Classical Commentary

They worship Me in ignorance. Their mode of worship is contrary to the ancient,rule. Hence they return to this world. People worship Agni? Indra? Surya? Varuna, the Vasus, etc. Even they attain Me, because I am everywhere. But their devotion is not pure. It is vicarious. Water should be given to the root and not to the branches. If the root is satisfied, the whole tree must be and is satisfied. Even so, if I (the root of this world and all the gods) am satisfied, all the gods must be and are satisfied. Though the messages from the five organs of knowledge reach the one consciousness, will it be right and useful to place a sweetmeat in the ear and a flower in the eyes The function of eating must be done by the mouth alone and the function of smelling by the nose alone. Therefore I should be worshipped in My own nature. They should know Me as the Self in all beings. They should recognise Me in other worship. I am the root. I am the source of all the gods and of this whole world. (Cf. IV.11VII.20)

Where This Happens

This verse occurs during Chapter 9 on the battlefield of Kurukshetra within the Mahabharata epic, where Lord Krishna is acting as Arjuna's charioteer and spiritual guide. Just before this moment, Krishna has been describing His divine opulence (Vibhuti Yoga) to convince a confused and despondent Arjuna about his duty as a warrior. Arjuna was struggling with the moral weight of fighting his relatives, and Krishna is now deepening his understanding that all worship ultimately serves the Supreme Reality.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional team working on different specialized projects: one group focuses on data analytics while another handles user interface design; though their daily tasks seem distinct, they are both driven by the same company's core mission and contribute to its ultimate success. Similarly, in times of anxiety or hard decisions where you might feel lost trying 'different' solutions (meditation, prayer, therapy), remember that all sincere efforts are ultimately aligned with a higher purpose if done with true faith. This perspective helps reduce spiritual confusion by unifying your actions under one intention rather than fragmenting them into competing paths.

Explained for Children

Imagine there is one giant Sun that lights up all the different lamps in your house; if you light a small candle and look at its flame, you are still using energy from the big Sun. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that when people pray to other gods with love, they are like lighting those candles—they are actually getting help from the same great Source of Light, even if they don't realize it yet. It is a bit confusing because they think they are talking to different friends, but really, all paths lead back to the one best friend who loves them most.

Daily Reflection

You might wonder if your current prayers or rituals are sufficient for God to truly see you, but this verse assures you that every sincere act of faith reaches Him directly. Even when you call upon a form distinct from what you imagine Krishna to be, it is ultimately the Supreme Self who accepts and rewards that devotion. Trust that your unique path, walked with genuine love, is never in vain because the Divine recognizes the sincerity behind the gesture.

A Practice for Today

Close your eyes and visualize every act of devotion you have ever performed for any deity, imagining each one as a single ray of light converging into the heart of the Divine. Silently acknowledge that while forms may differ in appearance, the consciousness being worshipped is always the same One Reality receiving your offering.

Key Teachings

The Unity of Devotion
All worship, regardless of the specific deity or form chosen by the devotee, ultimately culminates in an offering to the One Supreme Reality. The diversity of gods is a manifestation of the same underlying Divine energy that Arjuna worships as Krishna.
The Purity of Faith
God evaluates the quality of worship based on 'shraddha' or faith, not merely on the external rituals performed. A sincere heart directed toward any form is valued more highly than a hollow ritual without belief.
The Limitation of Form
While devotees may be attached to specific deities and follow traditional rules for those forms, they inadvertently worship the Supreme Lord according to their limited understanding. The verse gently corrects this by revealing that all paths eventually lead back to the same source.

Themes

Devotion (Bhakti)Non-dualism (Advaita)The Nature of GodFaith and BeliefWorship MethodsUniversal Truth

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

7.21 — This verse explains how Krishna manifests in the hearts of devotees as they desire to worship specific deities.
18.65 — This concluding instruction invites you to surrender all forms of worship completely to Krishna as the ultimate goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this verse mean we should stop worshipping our chosen deity?

No, it does not demand you to abandon your current practice immediately. Instead, it offers a higher perspective that all sincere worship is ultimately directed toward the Supreme Being behind those forms.

What does 'avidhipūrvakam' (by the wrong method) actually mean here?

It refers to a lack of complete knowledge rather than moral wrongdoing. It implies that while their faith is genuine, they are approaching the truth indirectly or with partial understanding.

How does this verse relate to modern religious pluralism?

It provides a theological basis for respecting different faiths by asserting that all sincere devotion reaches the same Divine Source. It validates the experience of devotees in any tradition while pointing toward an underlying unity.

Why does Krishna call it 'wrong' if He accepts all worship?

Krishna calls it 'improper' not because of their faith, but because they miss the direct connection to Him. It is a teaching tool to encourage devotees from other paths to recognize that their prayers are effectively reaching Krishna even if they don't know His name.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 9.23 →