Chapter 9, Verse 13 (Bhagavad Gita 9.13)
Chapter 9: Rāja Vidyā Yog – Yoga through the King of Sciences
Sanskrit Shloka
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः। भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्
Transliteration
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛitim āśhritāḥ bhajantyananya-manaso jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam
Word Meanings
mahā-ātmānaḥ—the great souls; tu—but; mām—me; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; daivīm prakṛitim—divine energy; āśhritāḥ—take shelter of; bhajanti—engage in devotion; ananya-manasaḥ—with mind fixed exclusively; jñātvā—knowing; bhūta—all creation; ādim—the origin; avyayam—imperishable
Translation
But the great souls, O Arjuna, partaking of My divine nature, worship Me with a single-minded devotion, knowing Me as the imperishable source of all beings.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna reveals the characteristics of the Mahatmas (great souls) who have transcended the limitations of material nature by taking refuge in His divine energy. By recognizing Lord Krishna as the eternal, imperishable source of all existence, these devotees shift their consciousness from the temporary to the transcendental. This single-minded devotion, or ananya-bhakti, is not merely a ritual but a complete surrender of the self to the Supreme. Through this intimate communion, the seeker attains liberation, finding their eternal home in the lotus feet of Bhagwan Shri Krishna. It is an invitation to every soul to awaken to their true nature and behold the divine essence of the Lord in everything.