Chapter 9

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: I shall reveal to you who are without envy, the most secret knowledge, along with the process of its realization, knowing which you shall be freed from the miseries of life.

This is the king of wisdom, the king of mysteries, and the supreme means of purification. It is perceptible through direct experience, based on dharma, easy to practice, and imperishable.

Not attaining Me, those who have no faith in this path return to this cycle of birth and death, O vanquisher of enemies.

This entire universe is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest form. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.

And yet these beings do not truly abide in Me. Behold My divine mystery: although I uphold all beings, and I Myself am the source of their existence, I am not in them.

Understand that just as the mighty wind moves everywhere, but always remains in space, all beings rest in Me.

All beings are withdrawn into My prakṛti at the end of a kalpa, and at the beginning of a new kalpa, I send them forth again, O son of Kuntī.

Using My own prakṛti, I repeatedly bring forth this entire multitude of beings who remain powerless under the influence of this very prakṛti.

And yet these actions do not bind Me, Dhanañjaya, since I am detached from them, remaining always indifferent.

Under My direction this prakṛti brings forth all the moving and non-moving beings. By this reason alone the world operates as it does, O Kaunteya.

Unaware of My supreme nature as the great controller of all beings, fools disregard Me when appearing in a human form.

The aspirations, actions, and knowledge of such ignorant people are in vain. They have adopted a malicious, demonic, and truly deluded nature.

But the great souls, O Pārtha, have assumed My divine nature. They adore Me single-mindedly, knowing Me to be the imperishable source of all beings.

Constantly glorifying Me, striving for Me, being fixed in firm vows, and bowing down to Me with devotion, they worship Me and are constantly united with Me.

Yet others make offerings by the sacrifice of knowledge and worship Me with a view of oneness, others with a view of duality, and yet others worship Me by various means as having faces everywhere.

I am the ritual; I am the sacrifice; I am the offerings made to the ancestors; I am the herbs; I am the mantra; I alone am the clarified butter; I am the fire; I am the sacrificial offering.

I am the father, mother, sustainer, and grandfather of this universe. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier, the syllable oṁ, as well as the Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda, and Yajur Veda.

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the friend of all. I am creation, destruction, and sustenance. I am the reservoir of everything and the eternal seed.

O Arjuna, I am the one who emanates heat; I send forth and hold back the rain; I am immortality as well as death; I am the eternal and the perishable.

Those who follow the three Vedas, purified from sin by drinking the soma juice, pray to attain heaven and worship Me with sacrifices. After reaching the realm of Indra, they enjoy celestial pleasures of the devas in heaven.

Having enjoyed the vast realm of heaven, they return to the world of mortals once their merit is exhausted. In this way, those who follow the Vedic rituals while desiring material enjoyment attain repeated birth.

But for those who are single-mindedly focused on Me and worship Me, for them who are absorbed in Me and ever in union with Me, I personally take responsibility of their prosperity and welfare.

O Kaunteya, even those bhaktas of other deities who worship with faith, in fact worship Me alone, however, not in a proper manner.

Indeed, I alone am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices. But such people do not know Me in truth; hence they fall down.

The worshipers of the devas go to the devas. The worshipers of the ancestors go to the ancestors. The worshipers of the spirits reach the spirits. But My bhaktas surely come to Me.

One who offers to Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or some water with devotion, I accept such an offering given with devotion by one whose mind is pure.

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give, whatever austerity you practice, O Arjuna, do it as an offering to Me.

With a mind absorbed in the practice of offering all actions to Me, you will become free from the bondage of karma in the form of good and bad results. Once liberated in this way, you will attain Me.

I am equal to all beings; there is no one hated by Me nor dear to Me; but those who worship Me with devotion are in Me and I in them.

Even if a person of exceedingly wicked conduct turns to Me with exclusive devotion, they must be considered virtuous, for such a person has truly resolved rightly.

Quickly such a person becomes righteous and attains everlasting peace. O Kaunteya, let it be declared that My devotee never perishes.

O Pārtha, having taken refuge in Me, also women, vaiśyas, śūdras, or even those born from sinful wombs will attain the supreme destination.

Then what to speak of brāhmaṇas, virtuous bhaktas, and royal sages. Therefore, having come into this temporary world devoid of happiness, you should adore Me.

Focus your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, offer worship to Me, and bow down to Me. Engaging your mind in this way and holding Me as the supreme goal, you will certainly attain Me.