Bhagavad Gita — Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, Shloka 30

Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga

Devanagari script

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् । साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥ ९.३० ॥

Transliteration

api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk | sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag-vyavasito hi saḥ || 9.30 ||

Translation

Даже если человек крайне дурного поведения поклоняется Мне, не имея иного прибежища, его следует считать праведным: ибо он принял верное решение.

Gita Press Meaning

Even if a person of very bad conduct worships Me with exclusive devotion, he should be regarded as righteous, for he has rightly resolved.

Critical Edition Meaning

Even if one of very improper conduct worships Me, devoted to no other—he is indeed to be considered good, for he has correctly determined (his course).

Comparative Note

The verse is often debated ethically: it does not necessarily excuse wrongdoing; rather, it emphasizes the decisive moral-spiritual reorientation (‘samyag-vyavasāya’) that can mark the beginning of reform.

Word by Word

• अपि: even; even if
• Root: अपि

• चेत्: if
• Root: चेत्

• सुदुराचारः: one of very bad conduct
• सुदुराचारः: Karta
• Root: सुदुराचार

• भजते: worships; serves; is devoted (to)
• Root: √भज्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Root: अस्मद्

• अनन्यभाक्: one who shares in none other; exclusively devoted (to Him alone)
• अनन्यभाक्: Karta
• Root: अनन्यभाज्

• साधुः: a good person; righteous
• Root: साधु

• एव: indeed; certainly
• Root: एव

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Root: तद्

• मन्तव्यः: is to be regarded; should be considered
• Root: √मन्

• सम्यक्: properly; rightly; completely
• Root: सम्यक्

• व्यवसितः: resolved; firmly determined; settled in intent
• Root: √वस् (वि+अव+√सि/√वस्) / व्यवसित (प्रातिपदिक)

• हि: for; indeed
• Root: हि

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Root: तद्

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Bhakti
• Ananya-bhakti
• Saṅkalpa
• Ethical transformation

Key Themes

• Possibility of change
• Primacy of resolve
• Devotion as transformative

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It recognizes that identity can change through a deep shift in commitment, supporting rehabilitation rather than fixed labeling by past behavior.

Metaphysical meaning?

Within the Gita’s framework, exclusive devotion aligns the person with the supreme, making spiritual progress possible even from a compromised starting point.

Contextual relevance?

It intensifies the chapter’s emphasis on bhakti by asserting its transformative power and setting up the assurance of rapid ethical stabilization in 9.31.

Modern Application?

It can be used to support compassionate, accountable paths of personal change: affirming sincere commitment while still encouraging ethical correction.