Chapter 9, Verse 32
Raja Vidya Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
mām—in me; hi—certainly; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; vyapāśhritya—take refuge; ye—who; api—even; syuḥ—may be; pāpa yonayaḥ—of low birth; striyaḥ—women; vaiśhyāḥ—mercantile people; tathā—and; śhūdrāḥ—manual workers; te api—even they; yānti—go; parām—the supreme; gatim—destination
English translation
For, taking refuge in Me, they who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth—women, Vaisyas, and Sudras—attain the Supreme Goal.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 9.32
Commentary
Chandalas or outcastes are of a sinful birth. Women and Sudras are darred by social rules from the study of the Vedas. What is wanted is devotion. There is no need for family traditions. The elephant Gajendra remembered Me with devotion and attained Me in spite of his being an animal. The lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile can attain Me if they have faith and devotion; if they sing and repeat My Name and if they think of Me always and think of no worldy object. Prahlada was a demon and yet by his devotion forced Me to incarnate as Narasimha. Birth is immaterial. Devotion is everything. The Gopis attained Me through their devotion. Kamsa and Ravana attained Me through fear. Sisupala reached Me through hatred. Narada; Dhruva; Akrura; Suka; Sanatkumara and others attined Me through their devotion. Nandan; a man of low caste but a great devotee of Lord Siva; had direct vision of the Lord in Chidambaram in South India. Raidas; a cobbler; was a great devotee. In the spiritual life or in the Adhyatmic sphere all the external distinctions of caste; colour and creed disappear altogether. Shabari; though a Bhilni (a tribe) by birth; was a great devotee of Lord Rama. Hindu scriptures are full of such instances. Hinduism does not restrict salvation to any one group or section of humanity. All can attain God if they have devotion.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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