Bhagavad Gita 7.16

Verse 16

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन | आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ || १६ ||

Transliteration

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛtino 'rjuna ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

Synonyms

catuḥ-vidhāḥ—four kinds; bhajante—worship; mām—Me; janāḥ—people; su-kṛtinaḥ—those who are pious; arjuna—O Arjuna; ārtaḥ—the distressed; jijñāsuḥ—the seeker of knowledge; artha-arthī—one who desires wealth/worldly benefit; jñānī—the man of wisdom; ca—and; bharata-ṛṣabha—O chief of the Bharatas.

Translation

O best of the Bharatas, four types of virtuous persons worship Me: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the wise.

Multi-Tradition Commentary

Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita)

All four types are śukṛtins—meritorious souls who, regardless of their motivation, turn toward the Lord rather than away from Him. Even the distressed man crying out in pain, or the merchant praying for prosperity, is building a relationship with Īśvara. Over time and through grace, any of these orientations can deepen into the love of the jñānī.

Practical Application (Modern Life)

Do not judge your current reason for being drawn to spirituality. Whether it is grief, curiosity, desire for security, or genuine wisdom-seeking—all are valid entry points. What matters is that you are turning toward the light, however tentatively.

Chapter Content

View all shlokas in Chapter 7

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