Word meanings
- mām
- in me
- hi
- certainly
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- vyapāśritya
- take refuge
- ye
- who
- api
- even
- syuḥ
- may be
- pāpa yonayaḥ
- of low birth
- striyaḥ
- women
- vaiśyāḥ
- mercantile people
- tathā
- and
- śūdrāḥ
- manual workers
- te api
- even they
- yānti
- go
- parām
- the supreme
- gatim
- destination
Translations
For, taking refuge in Me, they who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth—women, Vaisyas, and Sudras—attain the Supreme Goal.
Even the children of sinful parents, those miscalled the weaker sex, merchants, and laborers, if they make Me their refuge, they shall attain the highest.
For, O son of Prtha, even those who are born of sin-women, Vaisyas, as well as Sudras—[S.'s construction of this portion is: women, Vaisyas as well as Sudras, and even others who are born of sin (i.e., those who are born low and are of vile deeds, viz Mlecchas, Pukkasas and others). M.S. also takes papa-yonayah (born of sin) as a separate phrase, and classifies women and others only as those darred from Vedic study, etc.-Tr.]—even they reach the highest Goal by taking shelter under Me.
हे पृथानन्दन ! जो भी पापयोनिवाले हों तथा जो भी स्त्रियाँ, वैश्य और शूद्र हों, वे भी सर्वथा मेरे शरण होकर निःसन्देह परमगतिको प्राप्त हो जाते हैं।Commentary
Chandalas or outcastes are of a sinful birth. Women and Sudras are darred by social rules from the study of the Vedas. What is wanted is devotion. There is no need for family traditions. The elephant Gajendra remembered Me with devotion and attained Me in spite of his being an animal. The lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile can attain Me if they have faith and devotion, if they sing and repeat My Name and if they think of Me always and think of no worldy object. Prahlada was a demon and yet by his devotion forced Me to incarnate as Narasimha.
Birth is immaterial. Devotion is everything. The Gopis attained Me through their devotion. Kamsa and Ravana attained Me through fear. Sisupala reached Me through hatred. Narada? Dhruva? Akrura? Suka? Sanatkumara and others attined Me through their devotion. Nandan, a man of low caste but a great devotee of Lord Siva, had direct vision of the Lord in Chidambaram in South India. Raidas, a cobbler, was a great devotee. In the spiritual life or in the Adhyatmic sphere all the external distinctions of caste, colour and creed disappear altogether.
Shabari, though a Bhilni (a tribe) by birth, was a great devotee of Lord Rama. Hindu scriptures are full of such instances. Hinduism does not restrict salvation to any one group or section of humanity. All can attain God if they have devotion.