In Bhagavad Gita 9.29, Krishna says he is the same toward all beings; none is hateful or dear to him, but those who worship him with devotion are in him and he in them.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥ ९-२९ ॥
samo’haṃ sarvabhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo’sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṃ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpyaham
English transliteration samo’ham sarvabhooteshu
na me dveshyo’sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu maam bhaktyaa
mayi te teshu chaapyaham ॥ 9.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the same toward all beings; to Me none is hateful and none is dear. But those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I too am in them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| समः samaḥ | the same |
| अहम् aham | I |
| सर्वभूतेषु sarvabhūteṣu | toward all beings |
| न na | not |
| मे me | to Me |
| द्वेष्यः dveṣyaḥ | hateful |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| न na | not |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
| ये ye | who |
| भजन्ति bhajanti | worship |
| तु tu | but |
| माम् mām | Me |
| भक्त्या bhaktyā | with devotion |
| मयि mayi | in Me |
| ते te | they |
| तेषु teṣu | in them |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–mo–‘haṃ sar–va–bhū–te–ṣu 8 syllables sa-mo-‘ham sar-va-bhoo-te-shu
- na me dveṣ–yo–‘sti na pri–yaḥ | 8 syllables na me dvesh-yo-‘sti na pri-yah
- ye bha–jan–ti tu māṃ bhak–tyā 8 syllables ye bha-jan-ti tu maam bhak-tyaa
- ma–yi te te–ṣu cāp–ya–ham || 9-29 8 syllables ma-yi te te-shu chaap-ya-ham
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 29
Context
Krishna explains the nature of his love (9.29–9.34).
Meaning
The Divine is sama, impartial, toward all beings. It does not hate anyone or favour anyone arbitrarily. Yet those who turn to it in devotion experience a mutual indwelling: they are in the Divine and the Divine is in them. The sun shines equally on all; those who open their windows receive its light.
God’s love is not partial, but our receptivity varies. Devotion is the opening of the heart that allows the ever-present Divine to be experienced.
In Practice
Open your heart to the Divine in a moment of prayer today, trusting that it is equally present to you as to anyone.
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.