Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 9.15

“Others, with knowledge, worship Me as the One, the manifold, facing everywhere, through various means.”
Key Teaching: Knowledgeable devotees worship Krishna as the One and manifold.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that others, with knowledge, worship him as the One, the manifold, facing everywhere, through various means. This verse, continuing 9.14, addresses Arjuna’s need for understanding diverse worship (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies knowledgeable worship, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes divine unity, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s confusion (1.28–46) limits his worship, unlike Duryodhana’s lack of knowledge (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to adopt knowledgeable worship for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 9.14). Knowledge unifies worship.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human diversity in worship, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on divine unity (7.21–22). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to worship with knowledge. The theme of Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on unified devotion.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its inclusive clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s diverse worship, where knowledge unifies devotion. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with knowledgeable worship, aligning with liberation.