Chapter 9 Verse 23
Rāja Vidyā Yog
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्।।9.23।।
ye ’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam
Word Meanings
| ye | those who |
| api | although |
| anya | other |
| devatā | celestial gods |
| bhaktāḥ | devotees |
| yajante | worship |
| śhraddhayā anvitāḥ | faithfully |
| te | they |
| api | also |
| mām | me |
| eva | only |
| kaunteya | Arjun, the son of Kunti |
| yajanti | worship |
| avidhi-pūrvakam | by the wrong method |
Translation
Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, but by the wrong method.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
The verse says that sincere devotion, even when directed to other gods or forms, ultimately reaches the one Supreme. What matters most is the heart that worships, not only the name or ritual used.
Calling the method "wrong" means the worshipper has a limited understanding of the ultimate reality. Still, their faith connects them to the source, and their devotion is not wasted. This teaches that divine unity underlies many religious forms.
It invites humility and respect for other paths: outward differences do not cancel an inner longing for the Divine, and such longing can lead a person forward on the spiritual path.
Life Application
- Treat others' spiritual practices with respect; sincere faith matters more than labels or outward forms.
- Make your own rituals alive: bring attention and feeling to small practices (prayer, service, remembrance) rather than doing them mechanically.
- Use acts of devotion as stepping stones—let heartfelt practice deepen into understanding, not just habit.
Reflection Question
Is my spiritual practice driven by true inner faith, or mainly by outward habit and form?