महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः। भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम्।।9.13।।
mahātmānastu māṁ pārtha daivīm prakṛtim āśritāḥ | bhajanti ananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtād iṁ avyayam
Translation
But the great souls, who take shelter of My divine energy, O Partha, knowing Me as the inexhaustible origin of all creation, worship Me with minds fixed without deviation.
Word Meanings
mahā-ātmānaḥ — the great souls; tu — but; māṁ — unto Me; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā; daivīm — divine; prakṛti‑m — nature; āśritāḥ — having taken shelter of; bhajanti — render service; ananya‑manaso — without deviation of the mind; jñātvā — knowing; bhūta‑adi — the origin and all beings; avyayam — inexhaustible
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Pārtha", reminding him of the special relationship that the son of Prithā has with the Supreme. The term "mahā‑ātmānaḥ" (great souls) denotes those who have realised their true nature beyond ordinary material existence. They are distinguished from the ordinary masses, who remain bound by ignorance and the temporary pleasures of the world. By stating "tu", Krishna creates a contrast: while many are attached to samsāra, the great souls have turned away from it and taken refuge in the divine energy (daivīm prakṛti).
The phrase "daivīm prakṛti" refers to the imperishable, spiritual aspect of the material energy that pervades the universe. It is not merely the physical elements but the conscious, divine power that animates all creation. Those who recognise this divine nature of material existence do not cling to material objects; instead, they surrender to the higher principle that governs them. This surrender is the essence of "āśritāḥ", meaning "having taken shelter". When a seeker surrenders to the divine energy, the sense of individuality weakens, and the ego‑driven actions give way to self‑less participation in the universal will.
The next clause "bhajanti ananyamanaso" stresses the purity of devotion. "Ananya" means "without other" – a mind that is not divided or distracted by worldly desires, ambitions, or doubts. Such a mind is wholly centered on the Divine. Krishna emphasizes that this exclusive focus is essential for true worship. The devotee does not merely perform rituals; they internalise the sense of oneness with the divine, thereby transforming every action into an offering.
The verse culminates with the acknowledgement that the great souls "jñātvā bhūtād iṁ avyayam" – having known the Lord as the source (bhūta‑ād) of all beings and the inexhaustible (avyayam) principle that sustains the cosmos. This knowledge is not an intellectual comprehension alone but a profound, experiential realisation that the Supreme pervades every particle of existence. By internalising this truth, the devotee’s love deepens, and worship becomes a natural outflow of that awareness.
Krishna’s teaching here is both a description and an invitation. He describes the qualities of those who have already attained such a state, thereby providing a model for aspirants. Simultaneously, he invites Arjuna – and through him, all seekers – to cultivate these qualities: surrender to the divine energy, maintain a single‑pointed mind, and recognise the Supreme as the inexhaustible origin. This verse thus serves as a spiritual roadmap, guiding the aspirant from mere ritualistic worship to a deep, unwavering devotion rooted in the direct experience of the Divine as the source of all that is.
