Word meanings
- ye
- those who
- api
- although
- anya
- other
- devatā
- celestial gods
- bhaktāḥ
- devotees
- yajante
- worship
- śraddhayā anvitāḥ
- faithfully
- te
- they
- api
- also
- mām
- me
- eva
- only
- kaunteya
- Arjun, the son of Kunti
- yajanti
- worship
- avidhi-pūrvakam
- by the wrong method
Translations
Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, O Arjuna, but by the wrong method.
Even those who worship the lesser powers, if they do so with faith, they are thereby worshipping Me, though not in the correct manner.
Even those who, being devoted to other deities and endowed with faith, worship them, they also, O son of Kunti, worship Me alone, though following the wrong method.
हे कुन्तीनन्दन! जो भी भक्त (मनुष्य) श्रद्धापूर्वक अन्य देवताओंका पूजन करते हैं, वे भी करते हैं मेरा ही पूजन, पर करते है अविधिपूर्वकCommentary
They worship Me in ignorance. Their mode of worship is contrary to the ancient, rule. Hence they return to this world. People worship Agni? Indra? Surya? Varuna, the Vasus, etc. Even they attain Me, because I am everywhere. But their devotion is not pure. It is vicarious. Water should be given to the root and not to the branches. If the root is satisfied, the whole tree must be and is satisfied. Even so, if I (the root of this world and all the gods) am satisfied, all the gods must be and are satisfied.
Though the messages from the five organs of knowledge reach the one consciousness, will it be right and useful to place a sweetmeat in the ear and a flower in the eyes The function of eating must be done by the mouth alone and the function of smelling by the nose alone. Therefore I should be worshipped in My own nature. They should know Me as the Self in all beings. They should recognise Me in other worship. I am the root. I am the source of all the gods and of this whole world.
(Cf.IV.11VII.20)