अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च। न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते।।9.24।।
ahaṃ hi sarva-yajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhuḥ eva ca; na tu mām abhijānanti tattvena ataḥ cyavanti te
Translation
I am indeed the enjoyer and the sole Lord of all sacrifices. Yet those who do not know Me in reality will inevitably fall.
Word Meanings
ahaṃ — I; hi — certainly; sarva — all; yajñānāṃ — of sacrifices; bhoktā — the enjoyer; ca — and; prabhuḥ — Lord; eva — also; ca — and; na — not; tu — but; māṃ — Me; abhijānanti — they know; tattvena — in essence; ataḥ — therefore; cyavanti — fall down; te — they
Understanding the Verse
Verse 9.24 of the Bhagavad‑Gītā underscores the intimate relationship between the Supreme and all sacrificial actions. The opening clause "ahaṃ hi sarva‑yajñānāṃ bhoktā ca" declares that the Divine is the ultimate enjoyer— the one who partakes in the fruits—of every sacrifice performed by beings. This is not a mere figurative statement; it stresses that all rites, offerings, and deeds ultimately culminate in the Divine, who both receives and oversees them.
The term "prabhuḥ eva ca" further emphasizes that the Supreme is not only the enjoyer but also the supreme lord (prabhu) of those sacrifices. In the Vedic worldview, a sacrifice (yajña) is an act of surrender and devotion, and the lord of that act is the one who grants grace and accepts the offering. Thus, Krishna asserts His dual role as both participant and sovereign, reinforcing the inseparability of devotion (bhakti) and divine authority.
The second half of the verse presents a stark contrast: "na tu mām abhijānanti tattvena" – "but those who do not know Me in reality." The word "tattva" indicates the essential truth, the absolute nature of the Divine beyond superficial forms. Ignorance of this truth is not a lack of knowledge about mythic stories or rituals; it is a deeper spiritual blindness that prevents one from recognising the Divine presence in all actions.
Consequently, "ataḥ cyavanti te" – "therefore they fall down." The decline here signifies not only a spiritual downfall but also a cyclical rebirth (samsāra) driven by unawareness. In the Gītā’s philosophical framework, knowing the Supreme’s true nature is the key to liberation (mokṣa). Without this insight, beings remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death, endlessly repeating the patterns of ego‑driven action.
This verse, therefore, serves as a pivotal reminder for the seeker: to see the Divine as the innermost enjoyer and ruler of every offering, and to cultivate a direct, experiential knowledge of that reality. By doing so, one transcends the illusion of separateness, aligns personal actions with the cosmic order, and ultimately breaks free from the binding cycle of rebirth.
