Verse 9.25
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः | भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम् ||२५||
Transliteration (IAST)
yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino 'pi mām
Word-by-Word Meanings
yānti-they go
deva-vratāḥ-worshippers of gods
devān-to the gods
pitṝn-to the ancestors
pitṛ-vratāḥ-worshippers of ancestors
bhūtejyāḥ-worshippers of spirits
mad-yājinaḥ-My worshippers
Translation
Worshippers of the gods go to the gods, worshippers of ancestors go to the ancestors, worshippers of spirits go to the spirits, but My worshippers come to Me.
Commentary
This verse establishes a clear hierarchy of worship destinations. Each devotee attains the object of their worship. The crucial distinction is that only Krishna's devotees attain the Supreme and escape rebirth. Worship of lesser beings yields proportionally lesser results - temporary abodes rather than eternal liberation.
Themes
bhaktimokshakarma