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.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 7.16
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
चतुर्विधाfour kindsभजन्तेworshipमाम्Meजनाःpeopleसुकृतिनःthose with good deedsअर्जुनArjunaआर्तःthe distressedजिज्ञासुःthe seeker of knowledgeअर्थार्थीthe seeker of wealthज्ञानीthe wise oneचandभरतर्षभO best of the Bharatas
Read literallyfour kinds · worship · Me · people · those with good deeds · Arjuna · the distressed · the seeker of knowledge · the seeker of wealth · the wise one · and · O best of the Bharatas
Understanding the verse
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It expands the idea of devotion beyond purity tests and shows that sincere seeking matters more than perfect motives.
People come to Krishna for different reasons: pain, curiosity, gain, or wisdom. All four are counted among the virtuous.
02
On the battlefield
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.
03
In your life
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.”
People come to Krishna for different reasons: pain, curiosity, gain, or wisdom. All four are counted among the virtuous.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 7.16?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Vijnana Yoga" (Knowledge and Wisdom).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 7.16?
Verse 16 sits in Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Vijnana Yoga, "Knowledge and Wisdom". The chapter has 30 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 7.16 matter today?
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.
It expands the idea of devotion beyond purity tests and shows that sincere seeking matters more than perfect motives.
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.
“Even imperfect motives can begin a real relationship with the divine.”