The Journey Within

येऽप्यन्यदेवताभक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता:। तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥२३॥ अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च। न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्‍च्‍यवन्ति ते॥२४॥ यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितॄन्यान्ति पितृव्रता:। भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्॥२५॥ “Even those who, devoted to other gods and with faith, worship them—worship Me only, O son of Kunti, but in an improper way.” (Bhagavad Gita 9.23) “For I am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices; but they do not know Me in reality, so they fall.” (Bhagavad Gita 9.24) “Worshippers of the gods go to the gods, worshippers of ancestors go to the ancestors, worshippers of ghosts go to the ghosts, but those who worship Me come to Me alone.” (Bhagavad Gita 9.25) Understanding the Context In the ninth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna gently but firmly emphasizes a central spiritual truth: the importance of directly connecting with the Supreme , rather than becoming entangled in the worship of les...