Those devoted to the radiant beings reach the radiant beings. Those devoted to the ancestors reach the ancestors. Those devoted to spirits reach the spirits. But those devoted to me come to me.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 9.25
Hindi · हिन्दी
सकामभावसे देवताओंका पूजन करनेवाले शरीर छोड़नेपर देवताओंको प्राप्त होते हैं । पितरोंका पूजन करनेवाले पितरोंको प्राप्त होते हैं । भूतप्रेतोंका पूजन करनेवाले भूतप्रेतोंको प्राप्त होते हैं । परन्तु मेरा पूजन करनेवाले मुझे ही प्राप्त होते हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यान्तिgo/reachदेवव्रताःthose devoted to radiant beingsदेवान्the radiant beingsपितॄन्the ancestorsयान्तिgo/reachपितृव्रताःthose devoted to the ancestorsभूतानिspirits/beingsयान्तिgo/reachभूतेज्याःthose who worship spiritsयान्तिgo/reachमद्याजिनःthose who worship meअपिalsoमाम्me
Read literallygo/reach · those devoted to radiant beings · the radiant beings · the ancestors · go/reach · those devoted to the ancestors · spirits/beings · go/reach · those who worship spirits · go/reach · those who worship me · also · me
Understanding the verse
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Worship gods, reach gods; worship ancestors, reach ancestors. Krishna says devotion lands where it is aimed.
People reach the object they devote themselves to. Worship directed toward Krishna leads to Krishna; other devotions lead elsewhere.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
After saying that all worship is aimed at him in the end, Krishna adds that different kinds of worship lead to different ends. This verse sharpens the choice.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You keep returning to the same feed, the same crowd, the same craving. Over time, you start arriving where your attention has been going all along.
The takeaway
“What you repeatedly honor quietly shapes your destination.”
Worship gods, reach gods; worship ancestors, reach ancestors. Krishna says devotion lands where it is aimed.
What this verse means
People reach the object they devote themselves to. Worship directed toward Krishna leads to Krishna; other devotions lead elsewhere.
Context & commentary
After saying that all worship is aimed at him in the end, Krishna adds that different kinds of worship lead to different ends. This verse sharpens the choice.
What it looks like today
You keep returning to the same feed, the same crowd, the same craving. Over time, you start arriving where your attention has been going all along.
“What you repeatedly honor quietly shapes your destination.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), krishna (31 verses)