Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 9.20

“Knowers of the three Vedas, drinking soma, purified of sins, worship Me with sacrifices, seeking heavenly realms.”
Key Teaching: Vedic ritualists worship Krishna for heavenly rewards.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that knowers of the three Vedas, drinking soma and purified of sins, worship him with sacrifices to gain heavenly realms. This verse, continuing 9.19, addresses Arjuna’s need to understand ritualistic worship (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies ritualistic paths, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes divine worship, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s attachment to rituals (1.28–46) contrasts with Duryodhana’s material pursuits (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to understand limited worship for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 9.19). Rituals yield temporary rewards.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human reliance on rituals, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on worship (7.20). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to see ritualistic limits. The theme of Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on divine worship.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its clarifying clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s ritualistic pursuits, where Krishna is the goal. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with divine awareness, aligning with liberation.