Verse 9.32
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः | स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ||३२||
Transliteration (IAST)
māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim
Word-by-Word Meanings
mām-Me
vyapāśritya-taking refuge in
pāpa-yonayaḥ-of sinful birth
striyaḥ-women
vaiśyāḥ-merchants
śūdrāḥ-workers
parām gatim-supreme destination
Translation
For those who take refuge in Me, O Partha - even those of sinful birth, women, vaishyas, and shudras - they too attain the supreme destination.
Commentary
This verse is revolutionary in its social context, declaring that divine grace transcends all social barriers. By listing those traditionally excluded from Vedic study, Krishna opens the path of bhakti to all humanity without exception. The emphasis is on 'vyapāśritya' (taking refuge) as the sole qualification for liberation.
Themes
bhaktimokshasurrender