chatur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛitino ’rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī cha bharatarṣhabha
chatuḥ-vidhāḥ — four kinds;
bhajante — worship;
mām — me;
janāḥ — people;
su-kṛitinaḥ — those who are pious;
arjuna — Arjun;
ārtaḥ — the distressed;
jijñāsuḥ — the seekers of knowledge;
artha-arthī — the seekers of material gain;
jñānī — those who are situated in knowledge;
cha — and;
bharata-ṛiṣhabha — The best amongst the Bharatas, Arjun
In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna about different types of people who worship God. These people are good-hearted and follow some good principles in their lives, which is why they are called 'pious.' They turn to God for different reasons, and Krishna describes four specific groups:
1. **The Distressed**: This group includes people who are experiencing pain or trouble in their lives. They may be dealing with personal loss, health issues, or other hardships. In their moments of suffering, they seek comfort and help from God. For example, someone who has lost a loved one might pray for strength and healing.
2. **The Desirer of Wealth**: These individuals are looking for financial help or success. They might pray to God asking for a good job, prosperity, or solutions to their financial problems. This doesn't mean they are bad people; they are just seeking support in their material needs. For instance, a student might pray for a scholarship to ease the burden of college expenses.
3. **The Inquisitive**: This group consists of curious people who are eager to learn more about life, the universe, and spiritual matters. They have questions about existence, how things work, and they wish to understand deeper truths. These seekers approach God because they believe that He has answers to their queries. For example, a young person might want to know the meaning of life or the purpose of human existence.
4. **The Knowledge Seeker**: These are individuals who are specifically searching for understanding of the Absolute Truth, which refers to the ultimate reality or God itself. They have a deep interest in spirituality and want to know about God’s nature and teachings. They might study scriptures, attend spiritual gatherings, and engage in discussions about God.
However, it's important to note that while these four types of people are making an effort to reach God, they are not considered the highest or pure devotees. Pure devotion is about loving God without any selfish intentions or desires for personal gain. These four groups still hold some hopes or wishes that they want to have fulfilled through their worship.
If someone from these groups interacts with truly devoted people who follow God without any desires, they can become pure devotees themselves. These more devoted individuals have no selfish motivations—they love and serve God just for the sake of love.
On the other hand, those who live only for themselves and are involved in selfish or disorganized lifestyles may find it hard to connect with God genuinely. However, there is always a chance that they might meet a pure devotee who can inspire them and help them change.
In summary, Krishna is saying that even those who come to Him for personal reasons are still on the right path; they are starting to understand the importance of devotion and can eventually become true devotees if they purify their intentions. It shows that God welcomes everyone, no matter their starting point.