jñāna-yajñena chāpyanye yajanto mām upāsate
ekatvena pṛithaktvena bahudhā viśhvato-mukham
jñāna-yajñena — yajña of cultivating knowledge;
cha — and;
api — also;
anye — others;
yajantaḥ — worship;
mām — me;
upāsate — worship;
ekatvena — undifferentiated oneness;
pṛithaktvena — separately;
bahudhā — various;
viśhwataḥ-mukham — the cosmic form
In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna that there are various types of people who worship Him, each in their own unique way. Some people are really dedicated, focusing only on Krishna and understanding Him deeply; these people are called 'mahatmas,' or great souls. But there are also others who worship Krishna, even if they don’t fully grasp His greatness.
The verse specifically points out that people can worship Krishna as a god who is one and the same, or they can see Him as a divine being that appears in different forms. There are three main groups of worshippers described here:
1. **The First Group**: This group is the least developed in their understanding. These individuals believe that they are the Supreme Lord themselves. They think that there is no one greater than them, which can make them quite self-centered. Even though they might acknowledge that they have a spiritual essence, they still primarily focus on themselves as the ultimate being. This perspective is common among those who practice what’s known as 'monism,' which is a belief in unity with the divine.
2. **The Second Group**: These worshippers create their own ideas of what God should be. They don’t necessarily worship Krishna directly but might choose to worship other deities, believing that any form they imagine can represent God. This group might not see Krishna as the only Supreme Being; they might turn to various demigods or personal forms they create in their minds.
3. **The Third Group**: This group comprises those who are somewhat aware of the larger universe. They see the entire universe as a living being or a grand organism and choose to worship it. They might view Krishna as the cosmic form that encompasses everything, including all of nature and existence.
To sum it up, Krishna is acknowledging that people worship Him in many different ways, and depending on their understanding and approach, some are closer to the truth than others. Those who think of themselves as God (first group) have the least understanding, while those who view the universe as a reflection of the divine (third group) have a broader perspective. However, all of these paths—whether they are faintly aware or deeply knowledgeable—can lead to a connection with Krishna, even if they do not fully understand Him.