In Bhagavad Gita 9.24, Krishna says he is the enjoyer and Lord of all sacrifices, but those who do not know him in truth fall.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां
भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च
न तु मामभिजानन्ति
तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥ ९-२४ ॥
ahaṃ hi sarvayajñānāṃ
bhoktā ca prabhureva ca
na tu māmabhijānanti
tattvenātaścyavanti te
English transliteration aham hi sarvayajnaanaam
bhoktaa cha prabhureva cha
na tu maamabhijaananti
tattvenaatashchyavanti te ॥ 9.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For I am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices. But they do not know Me in truth, and therefore they fall.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहम् aham | I |
| हि hi | for |
| सर्वयज्ञानाम् sarvayajñānām | of all sacrifices sarva (all) + yajñānām (sacrifices) |
| भोक्ता bhoktā | enjoyer |
| च ca | and |
| प्रभुः prabhuḥ | Lord |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| न na | not |
| तु tu | but |
| माम् mām | Me |
| अभिजानन्ति abhijānanti | know |
| तत्त्वेन tattvena | in truth |
| अतः ataḥ | therefore |
| च्यवन्ति cyavanti | fall |
| ते te | they |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–haṃ hi sar–va–ya–jñā–nāṃ 8 syllables a-ham hi sar-va-ya-jnaa-naam
- bhok–tā ca pra–bhu–re–va ca | 8 syllables bhok-taa cha pra-bhu-re-va cha
- na tu mā–ma–bhi–jā–nan–ti 8 syllables na tu maa-ma-bhi-jaa-nan-ti
- tat–tve–nā–taś–cya–van–ti te || 9-24 8 syllables tat-tve-naa-tash-chya-van-ti te
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 24
Context
Krishna explains why worship of other gods is limited (continuing 9.23).
Meaning
The Divine is the bhoktā, the true enjoyer of all offerings, and prabhu, their Lord. Those who do not know this tattvena, in its truth, aim only at limited results and therefore cyavanti, fall back into the cycle once their rewards are spent.
The problem is not the form of worship but the lack of knowledge. Knowing that every offering reaches the Supreme transforms worship from bargaining into love.
In Practice
As you make any offering or act of service today, remember that it reaches the Supreme.
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.