Bhagavad Gita 9.23 · Krishna
Every sincere prayer reaches Me
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः।
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम्॥
ye’apyanyadevatābhaktā yajante śraddhayānvitāḥte’api māmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhipūrvakam
Even those devoted to other gods, who worship with faith, worship Me alone, son of Kunti, though not by the usual way.
Words
- śraddhā
What it means
Krishna says something inclusive. Those who worship other devas with shraddha, sincere faith, are really worshipping him too. Perhaps not in the traditional way. But sincere faith doesn't get lost. It reaches the One behind every form.
The story
Arjuna's world had countless devas and ways of worship. Krishna doesn't condemn any of them. He says every sincere heart is, in the end, reaching toward the same source.
In your life
Think of neighbours of different faiths each praying for a sick child on the street. Krishna's view is that all those prayers are heard. Respect sincere prayer, whatever form it takes.
Sincere faith always finds its way.