Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Yoga, verse 33
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा।
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥
Say itkiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣhayas tathā
anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām
Translation
How much more easily, then, do Brahmins and devoted royal saints attain the goal? Having come to this impermanent and unhappy world, do thou worship Me.
Swami Sivananda
What of the holy Brahmanas and devoted, wise sages? Having come to this fleeting, miserable world, worship Me.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
How much more then, for the pure Brahmanas and royal sages who are My devotees! Having obtained this transient and joyless world, they should worship Me.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
Certainly, it should be so in the case of the pious men of the priestly class and devoted royal seers. Having come to this transient and joyless world, you should be devoted to Me.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
What need is there, then, to mention the holy ministers of God, the devotees, and the saintly rulers? Therefore, do you, born in this changing and miserable world, also worship Me.
Shri Purohit Swami
जो पवित्र आचरणवाले ब्राह्मण और ऋषिस्वरूप क्षत्रिय भगवान् के भक्त हों, वे परमगतिको प्राप्त हो जायँ, इसमें तो कहना ही क्या है। इसलिये इस अनित्य और सुखरहित शरीरको प्राप्त करके तू मेरा भजन कर।
Swami Ramsukhdas
फिर क्या कहना है कि पुण्यशील ब्राह्मण और राजर्षि भक्तजन (परम गति को प्राप्त होते हैं); (इसलिए) इस अनित्य और सुखरहित लोक को प्राप्त होकर (अब) तुम भक्तिपूर्वक मेरी ही पूजा करो।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.