Chapter 9 · Shloka 23— The Yoga of Royal Knowledge & Royal Secret

ye ’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam

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

"Ye 'py anya-devata bhakta yajante sraddhayanvitah, te 'pi mam eva kaunteya yajanty avidhi-purvakam." — Even those devotees who, full of faith, worship other deities, worship Me alone, O son of Kunti, though not in the proper way. Krishna makes a remarkably inclusive statement about all sincere worship. 'Ye api anya-devata bhaktah yajante sraddhaya anvitah' — even those devotees who worship other deities (anya-devata), filled with faith (sraddha) — 'te api mam eva yajanti' — they too worship Me alone. Since Krishna is the one supreme reality behind all deities (recall 7.21–22), all sincere worship, whatever its outward form, in the final reckoning reaches Him. The one qualification: 'avidhi-purvakam' — though not in the proper, prescribed way (avidhi, not according to the correct understanding). Shankaracharya explains: their worship genuinely reaches the Divine, but because they don't recognize that all deities are forms of the one Supreme, their approach is incomplete. They worship the Divine without fully knowing it as the one reality behind all forms. The faith is real and the worship reaches Him; only the understanding is incomplete. This verse extends the Gita's spiritual generosity to its fullest. Krishna does not condemn those who worship in other forms or traditions; he affirms that their sincere faith reaches the same one Divine. The 'incorrectness' is not in their sincerity or their faith, but only in the incomplete understanding that the many forms are all the one reality. The teaching is profoundly unifying. All sincere worship, in whatever form, in the end reaches the same supreme reality. The differences are in understanding and approach, not in the destination. This is a powerful basis for genuine respect across all sincere spiritual paths: the same Divine receives all heartfelt devotion, however it is offered.

This is one of the Gita's most generous and unifying statements: all sincere worship, in whatever form, finally reaches the same one Divine. Krishna doesn't condemn people for worshipping differently — he affirms their genuine faith reaches the same reality. The only 'incompleteness' is in understanding (not recognizing all forms point to one source), never in their sincerity. The broader principle is a powerful antidote to division: when people sincerely reach toward the highest — through different traditions, different names, different forms — they're reaching toward the same ultimate reality, even if they describe it differently. This doesn't mean all views are identical or that understanding doesn't matter — Krishna does note the incompleteness. But it firmly establishes respect: heartfelt sincerity is honored regardless of the form it takes. In a world torn by religious and ideological tribalism, this is radical: the same Divine receives ALL heartfelt devotion, however it's offered. Sincerity unites; only understanding differs.

This is one of the Gita's most generous, unifying statements: all sincere worship, in whatever form, at the deepest level reaches the same one Divine. Krishna doesn't condemn people for worshipping differently — he affirms their genuine faith reaches the same reality. The only 'incompleteness' is in understanding (not recognizing all forms point to one source), NEVER in their sincerity. The broader principle is a powerful antidote to division: when people sincerely reach toward the highest — through different traditions, names, forms — they're reaching toward the same ultimate reality, even if they describe it totally differently. This doesn't mean all views are identical or that understanding doesn't matter — Krishna does note the incompleteness. But it firmly establishes respect: heartfelt sincerity is honored regardless of the form. In a world torn apart by religious and ideological tribalism, this is genuinely radical: the same Divine receives ALL heartfelt devotion, however it's offered. Sincerity unites; only the understanding differs.

Krishna shares something beautiful and kind: even people who worship God in different ways or by different names — as long as they do it with sincere faith and a loving heart — are really worshipping the same one God! Krishna says their love reaches Him, even if they don't fully understand that all the different forms are really one. It's like how children might draw the sun in many different ways — different colors and shapes — but they're all drawing the SAME sun! The lesson: be respectful and kind to people who worship differently than you. Sincere, loving hearts all reach the same wonderful God! What matters most is the love, not the exact form.