चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन ।
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे भरतवंशियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनव पवित्र कर्म करनेवाले अर्थार्थी, आर्त, जिज्ञासु और ज्ञानी अर्थात् प्रेमी ये चार प्रकारके मनुष्य मेरा भजन करते हैं अर्थात् मेरे शरण होते हैं ॥
English
Four kinds of virtuous people worship Me, Arjuna: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the wise one, O best of the Bharatas.
What this verse means
People come to Krishna for different reasons: pain, curiosity, gain, or wisdom. All four are counted among the virtuous.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen and Krishna begins explaining why people turn toward him. After warning that illusion blocks many, Krishna names four kinds of seekers who still come forward. This verse sets up the next one, which crowns the wise devotee as the highest.
Why this verse still matters
A person opens a prayer app after a panic attack, another after reading a hard question, another because life feels empty, another because they finally want what is true. The door is open to all of them.
The takeaway
Even imperfect motives can begin a real relationship with the divine.
Word-by-word translation
चतुर्विधा (four kinds) / भजन्ते (worship) / माम् (Me) / जनाः (people) / सुकृतिनः (those with good deeds) / अर्जुन (Arjuna) / आर्तः (the distressed) / जिज्ञासुः (the seeker of knowledge) / अर्थार्थी (the seeker of wealth) / ज्ञानी (the wise one) / च (and) / भरतर्षभ (O best of the Bharatas)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga — Knowledge and Wisdom, which contains 30 verses.