By: Rajendra Kapil

The dialogue of the Bhagavad Gita in this chapter is so captivating that neither the listener feels satisfied, nor does the speaker get tired. That is why it is extremely dear to Arjuna and to devotees. In this chapter, Lord Krishna reveals very special knowledge, which is why it is also called the Yoga of Knowledge and Wisdom (Jnana Vijnana Yoga).

Shri Krishna tells Arjuna that what He is about to share is extremely secret, the royal knowledge. To attain it, even wise men must put in great effort. Only those whose hearts are pure, whose minds are filled with faith, and who thirst for true knowledge can understand and appreciate it. Once this knowledge is known, nothing further remains to be known.

The Lord then begins to explain this knowledge with simple examples. First, He declares: I am imperishable. I am the controller of this universe. This entire creation arises from My will and My nature. I am present in every atom of it, yet I remain distinct from it.

For example, both water and ice contain water. Yet water does not contain ice, while ice contains water. Similarly, all beings are bound by Maya and Prakriti, but I transcend both. I am completely free. Though this sounds paradoxical, let us try to understand it more deeply. Since I create this world through My will, I pervade all of it. But My subtle form is so minute that within them, I am almost imperceptible. Think of it like air: in the vast sky, air is present in a grand form. In the same way, My universal form pervades everything. But in each being, the same air exists in a subtle form as breath—just a tiny portion of the whole.

“Just as the mighty wind, moving everywhere, always rests in the sky, in the same way, all beings rest in Me.” (9.6)

The Lord Explains Further

The Lord says that while there are wise souls in this world, there are also many ignorant people who have no interest in My true, divine nature.

“Fools deride Me when I descend in a human form. They do not recognize My higher nature as the Supreme Lord of all beings.” (9.11)

These ignorant ones think of Me as an ordinary mortal whenever I take birth in a physical form. When I appeared as the son of Devaki, such fools considered Me a mere man. They fail to see My eternal, divine essence.

The All-Pervading Lord

“I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering to the ancestors. I am the healing herb, the sacred mantra, the clarified butter, the fire, and the act of offering itself.” (9.16)

To help Arjuna understand further, the Lord gives another example. If a devotee performs a yajna (sacrifice) for My sake, then in that ritual:

• I am the clarified butter offered.
• I am the mantra chanted.
• I am the one performing the ritual.
• I am the sacred fire receiving the offering.
• I am the very inspiration behind the devotee’s act.
• And I am the deity who grants the fruit of the sacrifice.

I am also the four Vedas—Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva. I am the primal sound, Om.

Those who worship Me with desire, following scriptural rites, may gain heaven and enjoy pleasures. But once their merit is exhausted, they must return to the mortal world. Thus, they remain bound in the cycle of birth and death. But My true devotees, who desire nothing but Me, are beyond all this. They do not crave heavenly pleasures; they dedicate their lives solely to attaining Me.

“To those who meditate on Me alone, with unwavering devotion, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already have.” (9.22)

The Lord promises that His true devotees, who think of Him constantly, are very dear to Him. He Himself bears responsibility for their welfare and protection.

The Lord’s Assurance

He further explains the difference between devotees who worship with desire (seeking pleasures or rewards) and those who worship selflessly. The selfless devotees surrender all actions to Me, renounce attachment to their results, and long only for My eternal presence. I take such devotees into My protection and grant them liberation. They are freed forever from the painful cycle of birth and death and reside eternally in My divine abode.

“Even if the most sinful worships Me with an undivided heart, he must be considered righteous, for he has resolved rightly. Soon he becomes virtuous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, know it for certain—My devotee never perishes.” (9.30–31)

The Lord declares that anyone who takes refuge in Him—be they women, merchants, laborers, or even those born in lower circumstances—can attain the highest goal if they worship with faith and sincerity.

This is the unique teaching of the ninth chapter, the Yoga of Knowledge and Wisdom. Whoever understands this secret knowledge dedicates themselves solely to attaining the Lord. And in return, the Lord showers them with boundless grace and leads them to His eternal abode, from which there is no return to worldly suffering.

Let us too strive to be such true and pure-hearted devotees.

“Jai Shri Krishna”