Bhagavad Gita BG 9.30
Chapter 9, Verse 30 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् । साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥
api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak Sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah
Meaning
Even if someone of very wicked conduct worships Me with undivided devotion — that person is to be considered righteous. For they have rightly resolved.
Understanding
One of the most compassionate and radical verses in the Gita: api cet (even if) su-duracara (of very wicked conduct — the worst possible behavior) bhajate mam ananya-bhak (worships Me with undivided devotion). SAdhur eva sa mantavyah (that person is to be considered a sadhu — a righteous, good person). Samyag vyavasita hi sah — for they have rightly resolved (vyavasita — resolved, determined). The inner resolve — the turning of the entire being toward the Divine — immediately and fundamentally changes the nature of the person. The orientation, not the history, defines the person.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सुदुराचारः | su-duracara | one of very wicked conduct, very evil behavior |
| अनन्यभाक् | ananya-bhak | with undivided devotion, not divided to anything else |
| साधुः | sadhuh | righteous, good, virtuous person |
| मन्तव्यः | mantavyah | to be considered, to be regarded |
| सम्यग्व्यवसितः | samyag vyavasitah | rightly resolved, truly determined |
| अपि | api | even |
| चेत् | cet | if |
| सु-दुराचारः | su-durācāraḥ | of very bad conduct |
| भजते | bhajate | worships, serves |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| अनन्य-भाक् | ananya-bhāk | without deviation, exclusively |
| साधुः | sādhuḥ | a saint, virtuous |
| एव | eva | indeed |
| सः | saḥ | he |
| मन्तव्यः | mantavyaḥ | should be considered |
| सम्यग् | samyag | rightly, properly |
| व्यवसितः | vyavasitaḥ | resolved, determined |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| सः | saḥ | he |