Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 30

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

Sanskrit verse

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् ।
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥

Transliteration

api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk .
sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagvyavasito hi saḥ ॥

Meaning

Even if a person of very wicked conduct worships Me with undivided devotion, he should be regarded as a saint, for he has resolved rightly.

Word meanings

अपि – even
चेत् – if
सुदुराचारः – one of very wicked conduct
भजते – worships
माम् – Me
अनन्यभाक् – with undivided devotion
साधुः – a saint, a good person
एव – indeed
सः – he
मन्तव्यः – is to be considered
सम्यक् – rightly
व्यवसितः – resolved
हि – for
सः – he

Anvaya (word order)

सुदुराचारः अपि चेत् अनन्यभाक् (सन्) मां भजते, सः साधुः एव मन्तव्यः; हि सः सम्यक् व्यवसितः (अस्ति) ।

Explanation

This is one of the most hopeful and compassionate verses of the Gita. In the last verse Krishna said that those who worship Him with love dwell in Him. Now He opens the door even wider: ‘even if one is of very wicked conduct’. The prefix su intensifies the word; this is not someone with ordinary faults, but one whose conduct has been gravely wrong.

There is only one condition: bhajate mam ananya-bhak, he worships Me with undivided devotion, having made the Lord his only refuge. Of such a person Krishna says, sadhur eva sa mantavyah, ‘he must be regarded as a saint’. The emphasis of eva is important: not ‘like a saint’, but a saint. Society looks at his past; the Lord looks at his present direction.

The reason given is samyag vyavasito hi sah, ‘for he has rightly resolved’. Shankara says his resolve is excellent, and this resolve is what will transform his life. However muddy a river’s water, if it flows towards the ocean it will reach the ocean. The lives of Valmiki, Ajamila and Angulimala bear witness to this truth.

Yet the verse is no licence to go on doing wrong. Ramanuja clarifies that it refers to one who has begun devotion and in whom some faults remain from old habits. Genuine exclusive devotion itself removes those faults, as the next verse says: ‘he quickly becomes righteous’. Sin cannot continue alongside true devotion any more than darkness can remain beside light.

The verse also carries a deep social message. We should not judge anyone forever by his past. One who resolves to change deserves respect and a fresh chance.

Context

In verse 29 Krishna said He is equal to all, yet devotees dwell in Him. Here He shows that the door of devotion is open even to the wrongdoer. In the next verse He says such a person swiftly becomes righteous, and declares that His devotee never perishes.

Life lesson

However far a person has fallen, a new life can begin the moment he turns to God. Do not despair over your past; make a firm resolve today for the right direction. And give others too the chance to change.

Key terms

Suduracara: one of very wicked conduct
Ananya-bhak: one who worships the Lord alone
Sadhu: a saint, a righteous person
Samyag-vyavasita: one who has rightly resolved