Yoga through the King of Sciences
Verse 9.29
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः। ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्।।9.29।।
samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣhu na me dveṣhyo ’sti na priyaḥ ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣhu chāpyaham
Word Meanings
samaḥ—equally disposed; aham—I; sarva-bhūteṣhu—to all living beings; na—no one; me—to me; dveṣhyaḥ—inimical; asti—is; na—not; priyaḥ—dear; ye—who; bhajanti—worship with love; tu—but; mām—me; bhaktyā—with devotion; mayi—reside in me; te—such persons; teṣhu—in them; cha—and; api—also; aham—I
Translation · English
I am the same to all beings; there is none hateful or dear to Me; but those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I am also in them.
Deep Meaning · English
In this profound verse, Sri Krishna unveils the paradox of Divine neutrality and intimacy. By declaring himself equal to all beings, he establishes the foundational truth of the non-dual reality—the Brahmanic nature where the Divine presence is evenly distributed like space within various containers. God does not harbor favoritism or enmity, for he is the very essence of the life force animating both the saint and the sinner. The sense of distance we feel from God is merely a reflection of our own ego-constructed barriers, not a limitation imposed by the Divine. Therefore, the 'equanimity' of God is not a cold indifference, but a state of absolute, unconditional acceptance that sustains the entire cosmos without judgment. However, the second line introduces the beautiful mystery of Bhakti. While the Divine presence is equally present in everyone, the devotee, through the alchemy of love, awakens that presence within their own consciousness. Like a sun that shines equally on all, but only warms the object that turns to face it, the devotee who offers their heart in worship creates a resonance that allows the Divine to dwell within them. This is not a change in God, but a transformation in the seeker; by practicing devotion, the devotee collapses the perceived distance between the individual soul and the Supreme, realizing that the 'I' who worships and the 'I' who is worshipped are ultimately one and the same in the heart of love.
Divine love is a mirror—while God is equally present in all, we only experience His intimate indwelling when we cultivate the devotional orientation that allows Him to reflect back within our own hearts.
Connected Verses
It beautifully captures the mystery of the Divine as the inner impeller, dwelling in the hearts of all, waiting for the devotee to turn inward.
It highlights the wisdom of seeing the immutable Supreme Lord residing equally in all perishable living entities, providing the philosophical basis for Krishna's impartiality.
This verse bridges the gap between the seeker and the world by describing the Yogi who sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self, mirroring Krishna’s own equanimity.
This verse reinforces the idea that Krishna responds to individuals exactly as they approach him, echoing the reciprocation of love mentioned in 9.29.
Community Insights
(0)Share your understanding of this verse with fellow seekers.
No insights yet. Be the first to share your understanding of this verse.