Raja Vidya Yoga
34 Verses
Raja Vidya Yoga
राजविद्याराजगुह्ययोग
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.
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श्रीभगवानुवाच |
इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे |
ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ||९-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
idaṃ tu te guhyatamaṃ pravakṣyāmyanasūyave .
jñānaṃ vijñānasahitaṃ yajjñātvā mokṣyase.aśubhāt ||9-1||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: Since you do not find fault, I will tell you this greatest secret: knowledge combined with direct experience. Knowing this, you will be freed from what is harmful.
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् |
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ||९-२||
rājavidyā rājaguhyaṃ pavitramidamuttamam .
pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ susukhaṃ kartumavyayam ||9-2||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This is the sovereign knowledge, the sovereign secret. It is the best purifier. It is directly realizable, righteous, easy to practise, and imperishable.
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप |
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ||९-३||
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa .
aprāpya māṃ nivartante mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani ||9-3||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O destroyer of foes, people who have no faith in this teaching do not reach me. They go on turning through the path of death and rebirth.
मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना |
मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थितः ||९-४||
mayā tatamidaṃ sarvaṃ jagadavyaktamūrtinā .
matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na cāhaṃ teṣvavasthitaḥ ||9-4||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This entire world is pervaded by me in my unmanifest form. All beings exist in me. I am not contained in them.
न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् |
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः ||९-५||
na ca matsthāni bhūtāni paśya me yogamaiśvaram .
bhūtabhṛnna ca bhūtastho mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ ||9-5||
Simple English
Primary Translation
And yet the beings do not exist in me. See my divine power. My self is the sustainer and originator of beings, but it is not contained in the beings.
यथाकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान् |
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय ||९-६||
yathākāśasthito nityaṃ vāyuḥ sarvatrago mahān .
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānītyupadhāraya ||9-6||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Understand this: just as the great wind, moving everywhere, always abides in space, in the same way all beings abide in me.
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् |
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ||९-७||
sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām .
kalpakṣaye punastāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham ||9-7||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O son of Kunti, all beings go back into my nature at the end of a cycle. At the beginning of a cycle, I send them forth again.
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः |
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ||९-८||
prakṛtiṃ svāmavaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ .
bhūtagrāmamimaṃ kṛtsnamavaśaṃ prakṛtervaśāt ||9-8||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Taking hold of my own nature, I send forth again and again this entire multitude of beings, which are powerless under the force of their own nature.
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय |
उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु ||९-९||
na ca māṃ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya .
udāsīnavadāsīnamasaktaṃ teṣu karmasu ||9-9||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O Dhananjaya, these actions do not bind me. I remain like one indifferent, unattached to those actions.
मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् |
हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ||९-१०||
mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram .
hetunānena kaunteya jagadviparivartate ||9-10||
Simple English
Primary Translation
With me as the overseer, nature brings forth the moving and the unmoving. O son of Kunti, because of this, the world turns.
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् |
परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ||९-११||
avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam .
paraṃ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram ||9-11||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Foolish people disregard me when I take on a human body. They do not know my higher nature as the lord of all beings.
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः |
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः ||९-१२||
moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ .
rākṣasīmāsurīṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ mohinīṃ śritāḥ ||9-12||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Their hopes are empty, their actions are empty, their knowledge is empty, and they are senseless. They have taken on the deluded nature of demons and fiends.
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः |
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् ||९-१३||
mahātmānastu māṃ pārtha daivīṃ prakṛtimāśritāḥ .
bhajantyananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam ||9-13||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But O son of Prtha, the great souls who have taken on the divine nature worship me with undivided minds, knowing me as the imperishable source of all beings.
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः |
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ||९-१४||
satataṃ kīrtayanto māṃ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ .
namasyantaśca māṃ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate ||9-14||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Always glorifying me, striving with firm vows, bowing to me with devotion, they worship me with constant dedication.
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते |
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् ||९-१५||
jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate .
ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||9-15||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Others worship me through the sacrifice of knowledge, seeing me as one, or as distinct and many, or in many forms, facing in all directions.
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाहमहमौषधम् |
मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम् ||९-१६||
ahaṃ kraturahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhāhamahamauṣadham .
mantro.ahamahamevājyamahamagnirahaṃ hutam ||9-16||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the ancestral offering, I am the herb, I am the sacred chant, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the act of offering.
पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः |
वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक्साम यजुरेव च ||९-१७||
pitāhamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ .
vedyaṃ pavitramoṃkāra ṛksāma yajureva ca ||9-17||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I am the father of this world, the mother, the ordainer, and the grandfather. I am what is to be known, what purifies, the syllable Om, and the Rik, Sama, and Yajur Vedas.
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् |
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ||९-१८||
gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ suhṛt .
prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṃ nidhānaṃ bījamavyayam ||9-18||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I am the goal, the sustainer, the lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, the friend. I am origin and dissolution, the foundation, the storehouse, and the imperishable seed.
तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च |
अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाहमर्जुन ||९-१९||
tapāmyahamahaṃ varṣaṃ nigṛhṇāmyutsṛjāmi ca .
amṛtaṃ caiva mṛtyuśca sadasaccāhamarjuna ||9-19||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O Arjuna, I give heat. I hold back and release rain. I am both immortality and death. I am what exists and what does not exist.
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते |
ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोक- मश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् ||९-२०||
traividyā māṃ somapāḥ pūtapāpā yajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṃ prārthayante .
te puṇyamāsādya surendralokaṃ aśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān ||9-20||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those versed in the Vedas, who drink soma and are purified of sin, worship me with sacrifices and pray for the path to heaven. Reaching the meritorious world of the king of gods, they enjoy the divine pleasures of the gods in heaven.
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति |
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते ||९-२१||
te taṃ bhuktvā svargalokaṃ viśālaṃ kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti .
evaṃ trayīdharmamanuprapannā gatāgataṃ kāmakāmā labhante ||9-21||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Having enjoyed that vast heavenly world, they enter the human world when their merit is exhausted. In this way, those who follow the duties prescribed in the three Vedas, seeking pleasures, go back and forth.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ||९-२२||
ananyāścintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate .
teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham ||9-22||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those persons who think of me without separation, who worship me everywhere, for them who are always devoted, I carry what they need and preserve what they have.
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः |
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ||९-२३||
ye.apyanyadevatābhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ .
te.api māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||9-23||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even those who are devoted to other deities and worship them with faith, O son of Kunti, they too worship me, though not in the proper way.
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च |
न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ||९-२४||
ahaṃ hi sarvayajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhureva ca .
na tu māmabhijānanti tattvenātaścyavanti te ||9-24||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I am indeed the enjoyer and the lord of all sacrifices. But they do not know me in truth. Because of that, they fall.
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः |
भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम् ||९-२५||
yānti devavratā devānpitṝnyānti pitṛvratāḥ .
bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino.api mām ||9-25||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those who are devoted to the gods go to the gods. Those devoted to the ancestors go to the ancestors. Those who worship spirits go to spirits. Those who worship me come to me.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति |
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ||९-२६||
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati .
tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||9-26||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept that offering, presented with devotion, from that pure-hearted person.
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् |
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् ||९-२७||
yatkaroṣi yadaśnāsi yajjuhoṣi dadāsi yat .
yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruṣva madarpaṇam ||9-27||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O son of Kunti, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer as sacrifice, whatever you give, whatever austerities you undertake, offer all of that to me.
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः |
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि ||९-२८||
śubhāśubhaphalairevaṃ mokṣyase karmabandhanaiḥ .
saṃnyāsayogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaiṣyasi ||9-28||
Simple English
Primary Translation
In this way you will be freed from the bonds of action that bear good and bad results. With your mind set in the yoga of renunciation and becoming free, you will reach me.
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः |
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ||९-२९||
samo.ahaṃ sarvabhūteṣu na me dveṣyo.asti na priyaḥ .
ye bhajanti tu māṃ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpyaham ||9-29||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I am equal toward all beings. To me there is no one hateful or dear. But those who worship me with devotion exist in me, and I exist in them.
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् |
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ||९-३०||
api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk .
sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagvyavasito hi saḥ ||9-30||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even if a person of very bad conduct worships me with undivided devotion, that person is to be regarded as good, for that person has resolved rightly.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति |
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ||९-३१||
kṣipraṃ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṃ nigacchati .
kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati ||9-31||
Simple English
Primary Translation
That person quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare boldly that my devotee does not perish.
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः |
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ||९-३२||
māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye.api syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ .
striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrāste.api yānti parāṃ gatim ||9-32||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O son of Prtha, even those who are born of sin, women, Vaishyas, and Shudras, by taking shelter in me they too reach the highest goal.
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा |
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ||९-३३||
kiṃ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayastathā .
anityamasukhaṃ lokamimaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām ||9-33||
Simple English
Primary Translation
How much more so the holy Brahmanas and devoted royal sages. Having come to this impermanent and joyless world, worship me.
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु |
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः ||९-३४||
manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru .
māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivamātmānaṃ matparāyaṇaḥ ||9-34||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Fix your mind on me, be devoted to me, worship me, bow to me. By concentrating yourself and taking me as the supreme goal, you will come to me.