Chapter 9
Rāj-Vidyā-Yoga
Shlok 9.1
Shrī Bhagwān said
इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे।
ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्॥
idam tu te guhyatamam pravakshyāmyanasūyave;
jnānam vijnānasahitam yajjnātvā mokshyase’shubhāt.
For you, who are without asūyā,[54] I will reveal this most secret knowledge that is accompanied by vignān.[55] Having known it, you will be freed of inauspiciousness.
Shlok 9.2
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्।
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम्॥
Rājavidyā rājaguhyam pavitramidamuttamam;
pratyakshāvagamam dharmyam susukham kartumavyayam.
This knowledge is the sovereign knowledge, the great secret, supremely pure, that which can be experienced, characterized by dharma, easily practiced, and immutable.
Shlok 9.3
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्याऽस्य परन्तप।
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि॥
ashraddadhānāh purushā dharmasyā’sya parantapa;
aprāpya mām nivartante mrutyusansāravartmani.
O Arjun! Those who do not have faith in this conviction-filled dharma, having unattained me, return to the worldly cycle of death.
Shlok 9.4
मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना।
मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाऽहं तेष्ववस्थितः॥
mayā tatamidam sarvam jagadavyaktamūrtinā;
matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na chā’ham teshwavasthitaha.
I, imperceivable by the worldly senses, pervade this entire world. All beings depend on me, but I do not depend on them.
Shlok 9.5
न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्।
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममाऽऽत्मा भूतभावनः॥
na cha matsthāni bhūtāni pashya me yogamaishwaram;
bhūtabhrunna cha bhūtastho mamā’’tmābhūtabhāvanaha.
However, beings are not situated within me. Behold my majestic yoga. My self, which pervades all beings but is not dependent on them, gives birth to all beings.
Shlok 9.6
यथाऽऽकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान्।
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय॥
yathā’’kāshasthito nityam vāyuh sarvatrago mahān;
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānītyupadhāraya.
Realize that just as the immense wind (vāyu) traverses in all places while continuously residing in space (ākāsh), all beings live within me.
Shlok 9.7
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम्।
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम्॥
sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakrutim yānti māmikām;
kalpakshaye punastāni kalpādau visrujāmyaham.
O Arjun! During dissolution at the end of an era, all beings are absorbed within my māyā. At creation—the beginning of an era—I create them once again.
Shlok 9.8
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः।
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्॥
prakrutim swāmavashṭabhya visrujāmi punah punaha;
bhūtagrāmamimam krutsnamavasham prakrutervashāt.
Having divided my prakruti,[56] I repeatedly create all these beings, who are helpless because of their dependence on prakruti.
Shlok 9.9
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय।
उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु॥
na cha mām tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhananjaya;
udāsīnavadāsīnamasaktam teshu karmasu.
O Arjun! I, who am unattached to those karma and remain in a state of indifference, am unbound by those actions.
Shlok 9.10
मयाऽध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम्।
हेतुनाऽनेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते॥
mayā’dhyaksheṇa prakrutih sūyate sacharācharam;
hetunā’nena kaunteya jagadviparivartate.
O Arjun! Because of me, the sovereign, prakruti creates all moving and inanimate beings of the world. From this cause, the world transforms.
Shlok 9.11
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्।
परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम्॥
avajānanti mām mūḍhā mānushīm tanumāshritam;
param bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheshwaram.
The ignorant, who do not know my supreme being, disregard me—the sovereign of all beings—by believing me to be human-like.
Shlok 9.12
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः।
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिताः॥
moghāshā moghakarmāṇo moghajnānā vichetasaha;
rākshasīmāsurīm chaiva prakrutim mohinīm shritāhā.
Those who possess vain hopes, perform ineffective actions, possess futile knowledge, or have distorted thoughts assuredly possess demonic, ungodly, and deceitful natures.
Shlok 9.13
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः।
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्॥
mahātmānastu mām pārtha daivīm prakrutimāshritāhā;
bhajantyananyamanaso jnātvā bhūtādimavyayam.
However, Arjun! The great ātmās—those who possess a divine nature—worship me with singular conviction while realizing me as eternal and the cause of all beings.
Shlok 9.14
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः।
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते॥
satatam kīrtayanto mām yatantashcha druḍhavratāhā;
namasyantashcha mām bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate.
One who is constantly endeavoring, sings my glory, offers prostrations to me, and possesses firm vows is always joined with me and worships me with devotion.
Shlok 9.15
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाऽप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते।
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम्॥
jnānayajnena chā’pyanye yajanto māmupāsate;
ekatvena pruthaktvena bahudhā vishwatomukham.
Others who perform yagna also worship me through gnan-yagna. By realizing I reside within all beings and am superior to all, they worship me, the omniscient, in different ways.
Shlok 9.16
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्।
मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाऽऽज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्॥
aham kraturaham yajnah swadhā’hamahamaushadham;
mantro’hamahamevā’’jyamahamagniraham hutam.
I am the Vedic yagna; I am the yagna of the smrutis;[57] I am the offering to the ancestors; I am the medicinal herbs; I am the mantra; I am the ghee;[58] I am the sacrificial fire (agni); and only I am the offering.
Shlok 9.17
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः।
वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक्साम यजुरेव च॥
pitā’hamasya jagato mātādhātā pitāmahaha;
vedyam pavitramonkāra ruksāma yajureva cha.
I am this world’s mother, father, sustainer, and grandfather. Only I am the pure and worth-knowing Aum, the Rugveda, Sāmaveda, and Yajurveda.
Shlok 9.18
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत्।
प्रभवः प्रलयः स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम्॥
gatirbhartā prabhuh sākshī nivāsah sharaṇam suhrut;
prabhavah pralayah sthānam nidhānam bījamavyayam.
I am the end, the one who nourishes, the sovereign, the witness, the resting place, the refuge, the well-doer, the cause of creation, dissolution, and sustenance, the support, and the eternal cause.
Shlok 9.19
तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च।
अमृतं चैव मृत्युश्च सदसच्चाऽहमर्जुन॥
tapāmyahamaham varsham nigruhṇāmyutsrujāmi cha;
amrutam chaiva mrutyushcha sadasachchā’hamarjuna.
O Arjun! Only I, as the sun and others, radiate. I take in water and set forth the rain. I am the life of all beings and also death. Only I am sat and asat.[59]
Shlok 9.20
त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा
यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते।
ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकम्
अश्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान्॥
traividyā mām somapāh pūtapāpā
yajnairishṭvā swargatim prārthayante;
te puṇyamāsādya surendralokam
ashnanti divyāndivi devabhogān.
Those who possess Vedic knowledge, drink soma,[60] and are without wrongdoing pray to me to attain swarg upon performing yagnas. Having achieved swarg by one’s merits, they enjoy the celestial pleasures worthy of the deities.
Shlok 9.21
ते तं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं विशालं
क्षीणे पुण्ये मर्त्यलोकं विशन्ति।
एवं त्रयीधर्ममनुप्रपन्ना
गतागतं कामकामा लभन्ते॥
te tam bhuktvā swargalokam vishālam
kshīṇe puṇye martyalokam vishanti;
evam trayīdharmamanuprapannā
gatāgatam kāmakāmā labhante.
Having reveled in that vast swarg, they attain the mortal realm when their merits are exhausted. In this way, those who follow the worldly dharma of the Vedas and desire material objects come and go from the world—endure the circle of birth and death.
Shlok 9.22
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
ananyāshchintayanto mām ye janāh paryupāsate;
teshām nityābhiyuktānām yogakshemam vahāmyaham.
I secure the yoga[61] and kshem[62] for those devotees who thoroughly worship me with singular contemplation and are forever joined in Paramātmā.
Shlok 9.23
येऽप्यन्यदेवताभक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः।
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥
ye’pyanyadevatābhaktā yajante shraddhayā’nvitāhā;
te’pi māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam.
O Arjun! Even devotees of other deities who perform yagnas with faith, they unknowingly offer worship only to me.
Shlok 9.24
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च।
न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनाऽतश्च्यवन्ति ते॥
aham hi sarvayajnānām bhoktā cha prabhureva cha;
na tu māmabhijānanti tattvenā’tashchyavanti te.
This is because only I am the consumer of all yagnas and the independent bestower of fruits. Since the devotees of the other deities do not entirely know me, they fall.
Shlok 9.25
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः।
भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्॥
yānti devavratā devānpitrūnyānti pitruvratāhā;
bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino’pi mām.
Those who worship the deities attain those deities, those who worship the ancestors attain the ancestors, those who worship the spirits attain the spirits, and those who worship me attain only me.
Shlok 9.26
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥
patram pushpam falam toyam yo me bhaktyā prayachchhati;
tadaham bhaktyupahrutamashnāmi prayatātmanaha.
One who offers me a leaf, flower, fruit, or water with devotion, I accept that offering of devotion made by pure devotees.
Shlok 9.27
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥
yatkaroshi yadashnāsi yajjuhoshi dadāsi yat;
yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkurushwa madarpaṇam.
Arjun! Whatever you do, whatever you consume, whatever oblations you offer, whatever charity you give, and whatever austerities you perform, offer them to me.
Shlok 9.28
शुभाऽशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः।
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि॥
shubhā’shubhafalairevam mokshyase karmabandhanaihi;
sannyāsayogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaishyasi.
By doing so, you will possess sanyās-yoga[63] and be freed from the bondage of action, whose fruits are pure and impure. When released, you will attain me.
Shlok 9.29
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः।
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाऽप्यहम्॥
samo’ham sarvabhūteshu na me dveshyo’sti na priyaha;
ye bhajanti tu mām bhaktyā mayi te teshu chā’pyaham.
I pervade all beings equally. For me, no one is worthy of enmity, nor is anyone dear to me. However, those who worship me through devotion are engrossed in me, and I am in them.
Shlok 9.30
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्।
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः॥
api chetsudurāchāro bhajate māmananyabhāk;
sādhureva sa mantavyah samyagvyavasito hi saha.
Even if one is greatly unrighteous but worships me with singular devotion, they should only be known as righteous since they thoroughly possess devotion.
Shlok 9.31
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति।
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति॥
kshipram bhavati dharmātmā shashwachchhāntim nigachchhati;
kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktah praṇashyati.
They at once become with dharma and attain eternal peace. Arjun! Assuredly realize that my devotee never perishes.
Shlok 9.32
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः।
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम्॥
mām hi pārtha vyapāshritya ye’pi syuh pāpayonayaha;
striyo vaishyāstathā shūdrāste’pi yānti parām gatim.
O Arjun! Having taken my refuge, even those born in sinful orders or who are women, vaishyas, or shūdras certainly attain the superior end.
Shlok 9.33
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा।
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम्॥
kim punarbrāhmaṇāh puṇyā bhaktā rājarshayastathā;
anityamasukham lokamimam prāpya bhajaswa mām.
What more is to say about devotees who are pious brāhmans or rājarshis?[64] Therefore, having attained this impermanent and miserable world, worship me.
Shlok 9.34
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु।
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः॥
manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī mām namaskuru;
māmevaishyasi yuktvaivamātmānam matparāyaṇaha.
Become engrossed in me, become my devotee, become one who performs my yagna, and offer prostrations to me. By doing this, you, who are engrossed in me, will join your ātmā with me and attain only me.
॥इति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे
श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे राजविद्यायोगो नाम नवमोऽध्यायः॥
iti shrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpanishatsu brahmavidyāyām yogashāstre shrīkrushṇārjunasamvāde
rājavidyāyogo nāma navamo’dhyāyaha
In this way, within the Upanishad-like Shrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā, which is brahmavidyā and a sacred text on yoga, and in the dialogue between Shrī Krishna and Arjun, this concludes the ninth chapter titled “Rāj-vidyā-yoga.”