In Bhagavad Gita 9.32, Krishna says that all who take refuge in him, including those whom society of the time regarded as of low birth, women, vaishyas and shudras, attain the supreme goal.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य
येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्
तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥ ९-३२ ॥
māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
ye’pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrās
te’pi yānti parāṃ gatim
English transliteration maam hi paartha vyapaashritya
ye’pi syuh paapayonayah
striyo vaishyaastathaa shoodraas
te’pi yaanti paraam gatim ॥ 9.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For, O Partha, those who take refuge in Me, even those of lowly birth, women, vaishyas and shudras, they too attain the supreme goal.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| माम् mām | in Me |
| हि hi | for |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| व्यपाश्रित्य vyapāśritya | taking refuge |
| ये ye | who |
| अपि api | even |
| स्युः syuḥ | may be |
| पापयोनयः pāpayonayaḥ | of lowly birth pāpa (lowly) + yonayaḥ (birth) |
| स्त्रियः striyaḥ | women |
| वैश्याः vaiśyāḥ | vaiśyas, merchants |
| तथा tathā | also |
| शूद्राः śūdrāḥ | śūdras, workers |
| ते te | they |
| अपि api | too |
| यान्ति yānti | attain |
| पराम् parām | supreme |
| गतिम् gatim | goal |
Word-wise Chanting
- māṃ hi pār–tha vya–pāś–rit–ya 8 syllables maam hi paar-tha vya-paash-rit-ya
- ye–‘pi syuḥ pā–pa–yo–na–yaḥ | 8 syllables ye-‘pi syuh paa-pa-yo-na-yah
- stri–yo vaiś–yās–ta–thā śūd–rās– 8 syllables stri-yo vaish-yaas-ta-thaa shood-raas-
- te–‘pi yān–ti pa–rāṃ ga–tim || 9-32 8 syllables te-‘pi yaan-ti pa-raam ga-tim
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 32
Context
Krishna extends the promise of liberation to all people (9.32–9.33).
Meaning
In the society of the time, certain groups were excluded from Vedic study and ritual. Krishna declares that refuge in the Divine is open to everyone, whatever their birth, gender or occupation. All who take refuge reach the parā gati, the supreme goal.
The verse reflects the social categories of its age, but its message cuts through them: the Divine does not discriminate. Devotion is open to all equally. This verse should be read as a statement of spiritual equality, not as an endorsement of social hierarchies.
In Practice
Remember today that every person you meet has equal access to the Divine, and treat them with that respect.
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.