In Bhagavad Gita 4.11, Krishna says that in whatever way people approach him, he receives them in that same way; all people follow his path in every way.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते
तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ ४-११ ॥
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante
tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
English transliteration ye yathaa maam prapadyante
taamstathaiva bhajaamyaham
mama vartmaanuvartante
manushyaah paartha sarvashah ॥ 4.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
In whatever way people approach Me, in that same way I receive them. All people follow My path in every way, O Partha.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ये ye | who |
| यथा yathā | in whatever way |
| माम् mām | Me |
| प्रपद्यन्ते prapadyante | approach |
| तान् tān | them |
| तथा tathā | so |
| एव eva | indeed |
| भजामि bhajāmi | receive, reward |
| अहम् aham | I |
| मम mama | My |
| वर्त्म vartma | path |
| अनुवर्तन्ते anuvartante | follow |
| मनुष्याः manuṣyāḥ | people |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| सर्वशः sarvaśaḥ | in every way |
Word-wise Chanting
- ye ya–thā māṃ pra–pad–yan–te 8 syllables ye ya-thaa maam pra-pad-yan-te
- tāṃs–ta–thai–va bha–jām–ya–ham | 8 syllables taams-ta-thai-va bha-jaam-ya-ham
- ma–ma var–tmā–nu–var–tan–te 8 syllables ma-ma var-tmaa-nu-var-tan-te
- ma–nuṣ–yāḥ pār–tha sar–va–śaḥ || 4-11 8 syllables ma-nush-yaah paar-tha sar-va-shah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 4 Verse 11
Context
Krishna describes how the Divine responds to the different ways in which people seek it.
Meaning
This is a verse of great universality. The Divine responds to each person according to the way they approach: as a friend to those who seek friendship, as a protector to those who seek protection, as truth to those who seek truth. All paths are ultimately ways toward the same Divine, vartma, “My path.”
The verse has inspired tolerance and respect for different spiritual traditions. Whatever the form of seeking, sincere approach meets a fitting response. At the same time, it is a mirror: the way we approach life and the Divine shapes what we receive.
In Practice
Reflect on how you approach the Divine and life itself: with fear, bargaining, love or curiosity? Choose to approach with more love today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.