Verse 9.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
येऽप्यन्यदेवताभक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः | तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ||२३||
Transliteration (IAST)
ye 'py anya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ te 'pi mām eva kaunteya yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam
Word-by-Word Meanings
anya-devatā-bhaktāḥ-devotees of other gods
yajante-worship
śraddhayā-with faith
anvitāḥ-endowed
mām eva-Me alone
avidhi-pūrvakam-in an improper way
Translation
Even those who are devotees of other gods and worship them with faith, they too worship Me alone, O son of Kunti, though in an improper manner.
Commentary
Krishna reveals that all worship ultimately reaches Him, even when directed at other deities. The qualification 'avidhi-pūrvakam' (not according to proper method) indicates that while such worship is valid, it is indirect and therefore less effective than direct devotion to the Supreme.
Themes
bhaktidharmajnana