Yoga through the King of Sciences
Verse 9.30
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्। साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः।।9.30।।
api chet su-durāchāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ
Word Meanings
api—even; chet—if; su-durāchāraḥ—the vilest sinners; bhajate—worship; mām—me; ananya-bhāk—exclusive devotion; sādhuḥ—righteous; eva—certainly; saḥ—that person; mantavyaḥ—is to be considered; samyak—properly; vyavasitaḥ—resolve; hi—certainly; saḥ—that person
Translation · English
Even if the most sinful worships Me, with devotion to no one else, he should indeed be regarded as righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
Deep Meaning · English
This verse serves as a profound reassurance of the transformative power of divine grace, illustrating that the path to the Divine is defined not by one's past history of conduct, but by the intensity and exclusivity of one's current surrender. Lord Krishna emphasizes that 'Ananya-bhak' (exclusive devotion) acts as a fire that incinerates the conditioning of past 'durachara' (misconduct). When a soul pivots completely toward the Absolute, the past loses its binding authority; the individual's resolution to seek the Divine becomes their defining characteristic, rendering them 'sadhu' or virtuous in the eyes of the Lord. It is a radical assertion that the destination—union with the Divine—is available to all, regardless of the baggage one carries from the journey. From the perspective of Advaita and Bhakti, this verse dissolves the egoic construct of 'the sinner' and 'the saint.' Krishna invites Arjuna, and by extension all seekers, to recognize that the sincerity of the heart is the only currency that matters in the economy of grace. By declaring such a person 'samyag vyavasitah' (rightly resolved), the Lord validates the act of turning inward as the ultimate moral correction. Once the intent is fixed solely on the Infinite, the previous patterns of behavior are destined to dissolve, as the darkness of ignorance cannot survive the presence of the light of devotion.
The potency of singular, unalloyed devotion is so absolute that it instantly redefines an individual’s moral identity, elevating a seeker beyond the limitations of their past actions.
Connected Verses
The ultimate call to surrender, where the Lord promises to liberate the devotee from all sins, mirroring the promise in 9.30.
Directly follows the verse to clarify that such a devotee quickly becomes righteous and finds lasting peace, confirming their transformation.
Highlights that among thousands of men, hardly one strives for perfection, emphasizing the rarity and greatness of the resolute devotee.
Reinforces the idea that even the most sinful can cross the ocean of misery through the boat of spiritual knowledge and devotion.
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