ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā cha prabhureva cha
na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaśh chyavanti te
aham — I;
hi — verily;
sarva — of all;
yajñānām — sacrifices;
bhoktā — the enjoyer;
cha — and;
prabhuḥ — the Lord;
eva — only;
cha — and;
na — not;
tu — but;
mām — me;
abhijānanti — realize;
tattvena — divine nature;
ataḥ — therefore;
chyavanti — fall down (wander in samsara);
te — they
In this verse from the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is explaining an important truth about worship and sacrifice. He says that he is the main enjoyer of all sacrifices. What does this mean? In Indian culture, various kinds of sacrifices or rituals, called 'yajna,' are performed. These rituals are done for different reasons, like seeking blessings, resolving problems, or achieving certain goals. However, Krishna is pointing out that the ultimate aim of these sacrifices should be to please him, the Supreme Lord.
Think of it this way: when people engage in these activities, they're trying to connect with something greater. Krishna emphasizes that he is the focus of all these offerings and rituals. Essentially, he’s saying, "I am the one who receives and truly enjoys the fruits of all sacrifices made in the world." This means that any effort we put into doing good, helping others, or performing rituals should ideally be directed towards him.
Now, Krishna also mentions that people who don't understand this concept are missing the point. Instead of recognizing Krishna and worshiping him, they might end up worshiping other lesser gods or celestial beings for quick benefits like wealth, health, or success. However, this kind of worship can lead them to become stuck in a cycle of birth and death, which is often seen as a struggle in life. They might end up wandering through life, repeating the same mistakes, and not reaching their ultimate goal of spiritual fulfillment.
Krishna suggests that even if someone has strong material desires, it is better to ask for those desires from him, rather than from lesser beings. While this isn’t the highest form of devotion, it’s still better than seeking quick fixes from other sources. His willingness to give fulfillment to everyone illustrates his caring and supportive nature.
So, the key takeaway here is that Krishna is the true destination of all our efforts and desires. By recognizing him as the supreme enjoyer and following his guidance, we can align our actions towards achieving greater peace and understanding in life. This way, we avoid the pitfalls of confusion and remain focused on what is truly important.