Bhagavad Gita · Jnana Karma Sannyasa YogaChapter 4, Shloka 11 (4.11)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः
॥ 4.11 ॥
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
Translation
"As people take refuge in me, so do I serve (respond to) them; O Partha, human beings follow my path in every way."
Interpretation
A response like a mirror. From his side the Lord is the same to all; the difference lies in what the seeker wants.
Shankaracharya — according to the fruit sought. Yat-phalārthitayā māṃ prapadyante tān tathaiva tat-phala-dānena bhajāmi — I bless them by giving them the very fruit for whose sake they take refuge in me. To those who want fruits, fruits; to seekers of liberation without desire, knowledge; to wise renunciate seekers of liberation, liberation; to the suffering, freedom from suffering. Na punaḥ rāga-dveṣa-nimittaṃ moha-nimittaṃ vā kañcid bhajāmi — I do not favour anyone out of attachment, aversion or delusion. "Following my path": sarvāvasthasya mama īśvarasya vartma — in every state I alone am the Lord, so every path of action is in truth my own path.
Acharya Ramanuja — vision according to form. Yathā yena prakāreṇa svāpekṣānurūpaṃ māṃ saṅkalpya prapadyante — in whatever form, suited to their own longing, people conceive of me and take refuge, tathaiva tan-manīṣita-prakāreṇa bhajāmi māṃ darśayāmi — in that very form they long for, I show myself to them. And sarve manuṣyāḥ … mama vartma mat-svabhāvaṃ sarvaṃ yogināṃ vāṅ-manasāgocaram api svakīyaiḥ cakṣur-ādi-karaṇaiḥ … anubhūya anuvartante — even my nature, which is beyond the speech and mind of yogis, devotees experience with their own eyes and other senses.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.