Bhakti ArohanBhakti Arohan

Bhagavad Gita — Chapter 9, Verse 23

येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ॥ २३ ॥

ye ’pyanya-devatā-bhaktā yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ te ’pi mām eva kaunteya yajantyavidhi-pūrvakam

Translation

Even those devotees who worship other gods with faith, O son of Kunti, are also worshipping me — but not according to the proper way.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

हे कौन्तेय! जो सकाम भक्त दूसरे देवताओं को श्रद्धा से युक्त होकर पूजते हैं, वे भी मुझको ही पूजते हैं; किंतु उनका वह पूजन अविधिपूर्वक अर्थात् अज्ञानपूर्वक है।

Commentary

A generous and inclusive verse: all sincere worship ultimately reaches the one God. Krishna only notes that it is avidhi-pūrvakam — not with full understanding of whom they are really worshipping.