Faith is respected, knowledge completes it.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः |तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ||९-२३||
ye.apyanyadevatābhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥ . te.api māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam ||9-23||
Use this verse when comparing forms of worship.
Meaning
Even devotees of other deities who worship with faith actually worship Me, O Kaunteya, though not according to complete understanding.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
All sincere worship ultimately reaches Krishna, though understanding may differ.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Krishna gives an inclusive but hierarchical view: faith is honored, yet complete knowledge of the Supreme matters.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna offers a remarkably inclusive teaching. Those who, full of faith, worship various other deities are in truth worshipping him alone — for he is the one Reality behind every divine form. No sincere devotion is ever wasted or misdirected; it all flows toward the single source.
Yet he adds a gentle qualification: such worship is avidhi-purvakam, 'not according to the right method.' The faith is genuine, but the understanding is incomplete. They reach toward the One while imagining many, and so do not realise the fullness of what they seek.
This balances generosity with discernment: Krishna honours every faithful heart, yet quietly invites it toward clearer vision. The lesson is one of profound respect for diverse devotion, paired with the encouragement to seek the unity that lies beneath all forms.
In daily life
Respect sincere devotion while deepening understanding.
Family members may worship differently but share sincere faith.
Try this today
Honor one sincere form of worship today.
I respect sincere faith and seek full understanding.Reflect
Can I respect devotion without losing clarity?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘अन्यदेवता भक्ताः’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on faith, in other chapters
- Verse 4.4 · ArjunaSincere questioning, free of both blind acceptance and cynical dismissal, is the doorway to deeper understanding.
- Verse 7.21The Divine strengthens sincere faith wherever it is offered — bring genuine devotion, and it will be steadied from within.
- Verse 12.2A mind fixed on God, steady practice, and supreme faith together make the most complete yogi.
- Verse 17.1 · ArjunaSincere faith deserves understanding, not quick judgement — but faith still needs the guidance of wisdom to bear true fruit.
Swipe left for 9.24 · Know the true receiver of sacrifice.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 9.23
Who says Bhagavad Gita 9.23, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 9.23, in Chapter 9, Raja Vidya Yoga (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 9.23 mean?
Even devotees of other deities who worship with faith actually worship Me, O Kaunteya, though not according to complete understanding. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 9.23 for daily life?
Respect sincere devotion while deepening understanding. Family members may worship differently but share sincere faith.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 9.23 mean?
ये अपि — even those who; अन्यदेवता भक्ताः — devotees of other gods; यजन्ते — worship; श्रद्धया अन्विताः — endowed with faith; ते अपि — they also.
Where does verse 9.23 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 23 of 34 in Chapter 9, Raja Vidya Yoga. The next verse is 9.24.