In Bhagavad Gita 9.13, Krishna says that great souls, taking refuge in the divine nature, worship him with undistracted minds, knowing him as the imperishable source of beings.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ
दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो
ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् ॥ ९-१३ ॥
mahātmānastu māṃ pārtha
daivīṃ prakṛtimāśritāḥ
bhajantyananyamanaso
jñātvā bhūtādimavyayam
English transliteration mahaatmaanastu maam paartha
daiveem prakritimaashritaah
bhajantyananyamanaso
jnaatvaa bhootaadimavyayam ॥ 9.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But the great souls, O Partha, taking refuge in the divine nature, worship Me with undivided minds, knowing Me as the imperishable source of all beings.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| महात्मानः mahātmānaḥ | great souls |
| तु tu | but |
| माम् mām | Me |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| दैवीम् daivīm | divine |
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | nature |
| आश्रिताः āśritāḥ | taking refuge |
| भजन्ति bhajanti | worship |
| अनन्यमनसः ananyamanasaḥ | with undivided minds ananya (no other) + manasaḥ (minds) |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | knowing |
| भूतादिम् bhūtādim | the source of beings bhūta (beings) + ādim (source) |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–hāt–mā–nas–tu māṃ pār–tha 8 syllables ma-haat-maa-nas-tu maam paar-tha
- dai–vīṃ pra–kṛ–ti–māś–ri–tāḥ | 8 syllables dai-veem pra-kri-ti-maash-ri-taah
- bha–jan–tya–nan–ya–ma–na–so 8 syllables bha-jan-tya-nan-ya-ma-na-so
- jñāt–vā bhū–tā–di–mav–ya–yam || 9-13 8 syllables jnaat-vaa bhoo-taa-di-mav-ya-yam
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 9 Verse 13
Context
Krishna contrasts great souls with the deluded of 9.12 (9.13–9.15).
Meaning
Mahātmās, great souls, take refuge in daivī prakṛti, the divine nature marked by goodness, compassion and wisdom. Knowing the Divine as the imperishable source of all beings, they worship with ananya-manas, minds not divided by other aims.
Greatness of soul is not measured by worldly power but by orientation toward the Divine. The divine nature is cultivated by choosing qualities like kindness, truthfulness and humility.
In Practice
Cultivate one divine quality today, such as kindness or patience, deliberately and consciously.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.