In Bhagavad Gita 9.33, Krishna says that all the more do pure brahmins and devoted royal sages reach the goal; having come into this impermanent, joyless world, Arjuna should worship him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या
भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा
अनित्यमसुखं लोकम्
इमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥ ९-३३ ॥
kiṃ punarbrāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā
bhaktā rājarṣayastathā
anityamasukhaṃ lokam
imaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām
English transliteration kim punarbraahmanaah punyaa
bhaktaa raajarshayastathaa
anityamasukham lokam
imam praapya bhajasva maam ॥ 9.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
How much more, then, the pure brahmins and devoted royal sages! Having come into this impermanent and joyless world, worship Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| किम् पुनः kim punaḥ | how much more |
| ब्राह्मणाः brāhmaṇāḥ | brahmins |
| पुण्याः puṇyāḥ | pure |
| भक्ताः bhaktāḥ | devoted |
| राजर्षयः rājarṣayaḥ | royal sages rāja (royal) + ṛṣayaḥ (sages) |
| तथा tathā | also |
| अनित्यम् anityam | impermanent |
| असुखम् asukham | joyless |
| लोकम् lokam | world |
| इमम् imam | this |
| प्राप्य prāpya | having come into |
| भजस्व bhajasva | worship |
| माम् mām | Me |
Word-wise Chanting
- kiṃ pu–nar–brāh–ma–ṇāḥ puṇ–yā 8 syllables kim pu-nar-braah-ma-naah pun-yaa
- bhak–tā rā–jar–ṣa–yas–ta–thā | 8 syllables bhak-taa raa-jar-sha-yas-ta-thaa
- a–nit–ya–ma–su–khaṃ lo–kam– 8 syllables a-nit-ya-ma-su-kham lo-kam-
- i–maṃ prāp–ya bha–jas–va mām || 9-33 8 syllables i-mam praap-ya bha-jas-va maam
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 33
Context
Krishna draws the conclusion of 9.32 and calls Arjuna to devotion.
Meaning
If even those without social privilege reach the goal through devotion, how much more those with every advantage of learning and virtue. Then Krishna turns to Arjuna directly: this world is anitya, impermanent, and asukha, without lasting happiness. Having been born here, make good use of it: worship the Divine.
The impermanence of the world is not a reason for despair but an urgent reason to turn to what is lasting. Human life is the opportunity to do so.
In Practice
Recognise one advantage you have been given in life, and use it today in service of the Divine.
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.