Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 33

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

Sanskrit verse

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा ।
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥

Transliteration

kiṃ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayastathā .
anityamasukhaṃ lokamimaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām ॥

Meaning

How much more, then, the holy brahmanas and devoted royal sages! Having come into this transient and joyless world, worship Me.

Word meanings

किम् – what
पुनः – then, more
ब्राह्मणाः – brahmanas
पुण्याः – holy, virtuous
भक्ताः – devoted
राजर्षयः – royal sages
तथा – also
अनित्यम् – transient
असुखम् – joyless
लोकम् – world
इमम् – this
प्राप्य – having obtained
भजस्व – worship
माम् – Me

Anvaya (word order)

पुण्याः भक्ताः ब्राह्मणाः तथा राजर्षयः (परां गतिं यान्ति इति) किं पुनः; (अतः त्वम्) इमम् अनित्यम् असुखं लोकं प्राप्य मां भजस्व ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna declared that people of every birth and condition reach the supreme goal by taking refuge in Him. Now He completes the argument: ‘How much more the holy brahmanas and devoted royal sages!’ For those who already have pure tendencies, scriptural learning and favourable circumstances, the path is easier still. Rajarshis are kings who live as purely as sages even while ruling, like Janaka.

The hint is aimed at Arjuna. Born in a royal house, upright in conduct and the Lord’s dear friend, he is exactly such a person. If the way is open to everyone, someone like Arjuna should take it up without delay.

Then Krishna describes human life frankly: anityam asukham lokam. This world is anitya, impermanent; nothing in it lasts. And it is asukha, without true happiness; even its joys are mixed with sorrow. This is said not to depress but to awaken. Shankara comments that since the world is so, it is pointless to waste time searching for happiness in it.

Imam prapya bhajasva mam: having obtained this human life, worship Me. The word prapya suggests that human birth is a rare attainment. Because it is fleeting, time is short; because it is joyless, it is futile to get stuck in it. Yet this is precisely the life in which God can be reached. A traveller resting in an inn does not waste his stay decorating it, but prepares for the journey home.

Context

Verse 32 showed that devotion is open to all. Here Krishna reasons with Arjuna and urges him to worship in this fleeting life. In the next and final verse He describes the full form of devotion, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah, and concludes the chapter.

Life lesson

Human life is rare and brief. The things of the world are temporary and their joys are mixed with pain. Do not let this opportunity slip away; make remembrance and love of God the centre of life, starting today.

Key terms

Rajarshi: a king who lives like a sage
Anitya: impermanent, fleeting
Asukha: without true happiness
Bhajasva: worship, serve with love