Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 16

Chapter 7 – Jnana Vijnana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन ।
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥

Transliteration

caturvidhā bhajante māṃ janāḥ sukṛtino.arjuna .
ārto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha ॥

Meaning

Four kinds of virtuous people worship Me, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the wise.

Word meanings

चतुर्विधाः – of four kinds
भजन्ते – worship
माम् – Me
जनाः – people
सुकृतिनः – the virtuous, doers of good
अर्जुन – O Arjuna
आर्तः – the distressed
जिज्ञासुः – the seeker of knowledge
अर्थार्थी – the seeker of wealth or desired ends
ज्ञानी – the wise, the knower
च – and
भरतर्षभ – O best of the Bharatas

Anvaya (word order)

भरतर्षभ अर्जुन, चतुर्विधाः सुकृतिनः जनाः मां भजन्ते — आर्तः, जिज्ञासुः, अर्थार्थी, ज्ञानी च ।

Explanation

The previous verse described those who do not take refuge in the Lord. Now Krishna names the four kinds of sukritis — virtuous people — who worship Him. The classification is very realistic, for people turn to God for different reasons.

First, the arta — one who calls on God when caught in crisis, illness, fear or grief, as Draupadi did when humiliated in the assembly, or Gajendra the elephant when seized by the crocodile. Second, the jijnasu — one who wants to know the truth, the Self, or the nature of God; devotees like Uddhava are often given as examples. Third, the artharthi — one who worships God for wealth, position, children or some worldly object, as Dhruva at first undertook austerities wishing for a kingdom. Fourth, the jnani — one who, knowing the Lord in truth, worships Him out of pure love without any desire, like Shuka or Prahlada.

It is worth noticing that Krishna calls all four sukriti, virtuous. One who goes to God even in distress or out of desire is better than one who has forgotten God altogether. Shankara says that these four are people endowed with merit from former lives; turning toward God is itself the fruit of merit.

Often the journey of devotion begins with the first three and ripens in the fourth. Prayer that starts in crisis or desire can gradually grow into inquiry and then into selfless love. In the next verse Krishna explains why the wise one is special among them.

Context

Verse 7.15 described those who do not take refuge in the Lord; this verse names the four kinds of virtuous people who worship Him. In the next two verses (7.17–18) Krishna explains the special place of the wise devotee.

Life lesson

No reason for turning to God is too small — sorrow, curiosity or some desire. What matters is that you turn. Then gradually let your prayer grow beyond asking into love and understanding.

Key terms

Sukriti: a virtuous person, doer of good
Arta: the devotee in distress
Jijnasu: the devotee seeking knowledge of truth
Artharthi: the devotee seeking some desired object
Jnani: the wise one who knows the Lord and worships without desire