Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 11 (BG 4.11) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

4.11 ये who? यथा in whatever way? माम् Me? प्रपद्यन्ते approach? तान् them? तथा so? एव even? भजामि reward? अहम् I? मम My? वर्त्म path? अनुवर्तन्ते follow? मनुष्याः men? पार्थ O Partha? सर्वशः in all ways.Commentary I reward men by bestowing on them the objects they desire in accordance with their ways and the motives with which they seek Me. If anyone worships Me with selfish motives I grant him the objects he desires. If he worships Me unselfishly for attaining knowledge of the Self? I grant him Moksha or final liberation. I am not at all partial to anyone. (Cf.VII.21andIX.23).

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

It is not appropriate to attribute weaknesses such as attachment and aversion to the Divine. The Divine is a reservoir of infinite power—the very source of all actions and accomplishments. We have been given certain faculties and instruments through which to invoke the power of that Supreme Being. If we employ these faculties and this power with wisdom and discernment, we shall surely attain our goal; otherwise, that very power can become the instrument of our destruction. Through mechanical instruments, the fuel energy of petrol can be converted into horsepower. By utilizing this converted power through a vehicle, we can reach our destination—or we can collide with a tree and shatter our bones. Such accidents occur due to the carelessness of drivers. Yet, the very velocity with which the vehicle collided was derived from petrol. We cannot say that petrol was favorably inclined toward those who reached their destination and averse to those who met with accidents. Without any partiality, petrol provides its power; but whether we use it wisely or foolishly depends entirely upon our own intelligence. The same principle applies to electrical power. Electricity manifests differently in different devices—this is the nature of those devices, not a quality of the electrical power itself. In the same manner, the Divine declares here: "As people worship Me, so do I bestow My grace upon them." In whatever form we invoke the Divine, in that very form shall the Divine fulfill our desires. If the Divine is entirely free from partiality and other imperfections, then the Divine's grace should be equal toward all. Then why do ordinary people not seek refuge in the Divine, but instead desire other things? The answer to this question is...