Verse 9.29
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः | ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ||२९||
Transliteration (IAST)
samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo 'sti na priyaḥ ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpy aham
Word-by-Word Meanings
samaḥ-equal
aham-I
sarva-bhūteṣu-to all beings
dveṣyaḥ-hateful
priyaḥ-dear
bhajanti-worship
bhaktyā-with devotion
mayi te-they are in Me
Translation
I am equal to all beings; none is hateful or dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion - they are in Me, and I am in them.
Commentary
This verse resolves an apparent paradox: God is impartial (sama) to all, yet devotees enjoy a special relationship. Like the sun shines equally but a mirror reflects more light, God's grace is universal but devotion creates the conditions for its reception. The mutual indwelling ('mayi te, teṣu ca aham') describes the intimate reciprocity of bhakti.
Themes
bhaktisurrenderatman