Bhagavad Gita BG 9.13
Chapter 9, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः । भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् ॥
mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim ashritah bhajant y ananya-manaso jnatva bhutadim avyayam
Meaning
But the great souls, O Partha, who have taken shelter in the divine nature — knowing Me as the imperishable origin of all beings — worship Me with undivided mind.
Understanding
The contrast to v11's mudha (deluded). Mahatmanah (great souls — maha + atman) who have taken shelter in daivim prakrtim (divine nature — as opposed to asuric/demonic nature). Knowing Me as bhutadim avyayam (the imperishable origin/beginning of all beings). They bhajanti ananya-manasah (worship with undivided mind — ananya = not-other, single). The great soul's worship flows from knowing — jnatva. Not worship as duty or fear but as the natural expression of recognition.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| महात्मानः | mahatmanah | great souls (maha = great, atman = soul) |
| दैवीम् | daivim | divine, of divine nature |
| अनन्यमनसः | ananya-manasah | with undivided mind, not directed to anything other |
| भूतादिम् | bhutadim | origin of all beings, beginning of all |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | imperishable, inexhaustible |
| महात्मानः | mahātmānaḥ | the great souls |
| तु | tu | but |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Arjuna |
| दैवीम् | daivīm | divine |
| प्रकृतिम् | prakṛtim | nature |
| आश्रिताः | āśritāḥ | having taken shelter of |
| भजन्ति | bhajanti | worship, serve |
| अनन्य-मनसः | ananya-manasaḥ | with undivided mind |
| ज्ञात्वा | jñātvā | knowing |
| भूतादिम् | bhūtādim | the origin of all beings |