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← Chapter 9: The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret

Verse 9.24

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च | न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ||२४||

Transliteration (IAST)

ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaś cyavanti te

Word-by-Word Meanings

aham-I
sarva-yajñānām-of all sacrifices
bhoktā-enjoyer
prabhuḥ-Lord
abhijānanti-they know
tattvena-in truth
cyavanti-they fall

Translation

For I alone am the enjoyer and Lord of all sacrifices. But they do not know Me in truth, and therefore they fall.

Commentary

Krishna explains why worship of other deities is 'avidhi-pūrvakam' - because He is the ultimate recipient (bhoktā) and master (prabhu) of all sacrifices. Not recognizing this truth (tattvena) leads to falling back into saṁsāra. Knowledge of the Supreme's true identity is essential for liberation.

Themes

bhaktijnanadharma