Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 13

Chapter 9 – Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः ।
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् ॥

Transliteration

mahātmānastu māṃ pārtha daivīṃ prakṛtimāśritāḥ .
bhajantyananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam ॥

Meaning

But the great souls, O Partha, who take refuge in the divine nature, worship Me with undivided mind, knowing Me to be the imperishable source of all beings.

Word meanings

महात्मानः – great souls
तु – but
माम् – Me
पार्थ – O son of Pritha
दैवीम् – divine
प्रकृतिम् – nature
आश्रिताः – taking refuge in
भजन्ति – worship, adore
अनन्यमनसः – with minds turned to nothing else
ज्ञात्वा – knowing
भूतादिम् – the origin of beings
अव्ययम् – imperishable

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, दैवीं प्रकृतिम् आश्रिताः महात्मानः तु माम् भूतादिम् अव्ययं ज्ञात्वा अनन्यमनसः भजन्ति ।

Explanation

With the word ‘tu’ (but), Krishna turns the subject. The last two verses described those of demonic nature; now He describes their opposite, the mahatmas. A great soul is not someone with high office or fame, but one whose heart has grown wide, who has set aside narrow ego and made God the centre of life. In 7.19 Krishna had already said that such a soul, who sees that Vasudeva is all, is very rare.

The first mark of the mahatma is daivim prakritim ashritah, taking refuge in the divine nature. This is a disposition rich in sattva: peace, kindness, forgiveness, self-restraint and truthfulness. As the demonic nature drags a person into delusion, the divine nature draws one towards light. Chapter 16 opens with a full list of these divine qualities.

The second mark is jnatva bhutadim avyayam: they know the Lord as the imperishable origin of beings. Their devotion is not blind; it rests on understanding. They see that the One from whom everything comes is the One most worthy of love.

The third mark is ananya-manasah bhajanti: they worship with undivided mind. Ananya means that the mind does not run after any other refuge. Ramanuja says such devotees cannot sustain life for a moment without the Lord; He is their very breath. This exclusiveness does not mean fleeing the world, but making God the aim within every activity.

Context

Verses 11 and 12 described those of demonic nature. Here, in contrast, Krishna introduces the great souls of divine nature. In the next verse He explains how these great souls worship Him.

Life lesson

True greatness is a matter of a large heart, not of position or fame. Cultivate divine qualities such as kindness, calm and restraint, and let devotion rest on understanding. Instead of scattering the mind in many directions, gather it towards one supreme aim.

Key terms

Mahatma: great soul, one who makes God the centre of life
Daivi prakriti: divine nature, sattvic disposition
Ananya-manas: one whose mind goes to none but the Lord
Bhutadi: the origin of all beings