
9
CHAPTER
VERSE
15
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते |
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् || 9.15 ||
Jñāna-yajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate
Ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||
Others worship Me with the sacrifice of knowledge, while still others worship Me through various forms of devotion, seeing Me as one and diverse, as the universal form.
Lesson:
There are various ways in which people worship Krishna. He says that some worship Him through the "sacrifice of knowledge" (Jñāna-yajñena). This refers to the pursuit of spiritual wisdom and understanding, wherein individuals dedicate themselves to learning about the divine and the ultimate truth. Through this pursuit, they strive to deepen their connection with the divine.
Others, Krishna explains, worship Him through different forms of devotion (yajanto māmupāsate). This includes practices such as prayer, meditation, chanting, and acts of service performed with love and devotion towards the divine. These acts of devotion help individuals to develop a personal relationship with the divine and experience a sense of closeness and connection.
Krishna further emphasizes that whether one pursues the path of knowledge or devotion, the ultimate goal is to realize the unity of all existence (ekatvena) as well as the diversity within it (pṛthaktvena). This means recognizing that all beings are ultimately manifestations of the same divine reality, while also appreciating the unique qualities and forms through which the divine expresses itself.
Finally, Krishna describes Himself as the "universal form" (viśvatomukham), indicating that He transcends all forms and manifestations, encompassing everything within His divine presence. This verse thus highlights the inclusivity of the divine and the diversity of paths through which individuals can connect with and worship the divine. Whether through the pursuit of knowledge or through acts of devotion, the ultimate aim is to realize the unity of all existence and experience the divine presence in all aspects of life.