Chapter 9, Verse 25
Raja Vidya Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
yānti—go; deva-vratāḥ—worshipers of celestial gods; devān—amongst the celestial gods; pitṝīn—to the ancestors; yānti—go; pitṛi-vratā—worshippers of ancestors; bhūtāni—to the ghosts; yānti—go; bhūta-ijyāḥ—worshippers of ghosts; yānti—go; mat—my; yājinaḥ—devotees; api—and; mām—to me
English translation
The worshippers of the gods go to them; the ancestor-worshippers go to the manes; the worshippers of the deities who preside over the elements go to them; but My devotees come to Me.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 9.25
Commentary
The worshippers of the manes such as the Agnisvattas who perform Sraaddha and other rites in devotion to their ancestors go to the manes. Those who worship the gods with devotion and vows go to them. Bhutas are elemental beings lower than the gods but higher than human beigns they are the Vinayakas; the hosts of Matris; the four Bhaginis and the like. Those who devote themselves to the gods attain the form of those gods at death. Similar is the fate of those who worship the manes (their own ancestors) or the Bhutas. The fruit of the worship is in accordance with the knowledge; faith; offering and nature of worship of the devotee. Though the exertion is the same; people do not worship Me on account of their ignorance. Conseently they get very little reward. My devotees obtain endless fruit. They do not come back to this mortal world. It is also easy for them to worship Me. How (Cf. VII.23)
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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