Chapter 9, Verse 15
ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजन्तो मामुपासते | एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा विश्वतोमुखम् ||९-१५||
jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate . ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham ||9-15||
Meaning
9.15 Others also sacrificing with the wisdom-sacrifice worship Me, the All-faced, as one, as distinct, and as manifold.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna now honours the path of jnana-yajna, the 'sacrifice of knowledge' — worship offered through contemplation and inquiry rather than outward ritual. He acknowledges that seekers approach the Divine through different understandings: some as ekatva, the absolute One; some as prithaktva, the Lord distinct from the worshipper; and some as bahudha, the manifold deity present in countless forms.
The calls himself vishvato-mukham, 'the All-faced,' turned toward every direction at once. This is a remarkably generous vision: the same Reality receives the monist, the dualist, and the polytheist alike, for all are reaching toward the one Truth through the shape their hearts can hold. Krishna does not insist on a single theology but welcomes every sincere approach. Spiritual maturity lies in recognising that diverse paths can ascend the same mountain.
💡 Key Takeaway
The one Reality receives every sincere seeker, whether they approach it as one, as distinct, or as manifold.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे | ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ||९-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . idaṃ tu te guhyatamaṃ pravakṣyāmyanasūyave . jñānaṃ vijñānasahitaṃ yajjñātvā mokṣyase.aśubhāt ||9-1||
9.1 The Blessed Lord said I shall now declare to thee who does not cavil, the greatest secret, the knowledge combined with experience (Self-realisation). Having known this thou shalt be free evil.
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् | प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ||९-२||
rājavidyā rājaguhyaṃ pavitramidamuttamam . pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ susukhaṃ kartumavyayam ||9-2||
9.2 This is the kingl science, the kingly secret, the supreme purifier, realisable by direct intuitional knowledge, according to righteousness, very easy to perform and imperishable.
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः | नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ||९-१४||
satataṃ kīrtayanto māṃ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ . namasyantaśca māṃ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate ||9-14||
9.14 Always glorifying Me, striving,firm in vows, prostrating themselves before Me, they worship Me with devotion always steadfast.