Verse 9.32

Verse 9.32: “For, O Son of Paritha, betaking themselves unto Me—even though they be the (so called) lowly-born: women, Vashyas (producers and merchants) as also Shudras (menials)—yet shall even these attain the Goal Supreme. (443)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Many indeed are, Oh Kiriti! the souls that are born in families un-nameably low and the vilest of the vile. Being slow-witted, they are as good as stones; and yet they are of unflinching faith and devotion to Me. (There are) others: their speech is nothing but My praises; their vision is ever fixed on Me; their mind ever thinks of nothing but Me; their ears ever listen to my praises; nothing else than acts of worshipful service decorates their bodies; their knowledge is a stranger to sense-objects, and so their awareness divines the sole God in Me. Being thus in Me and for Me, life is worth living (for them); all else is death.

Thus have they, Oh Kind, made Me, in entirety, the very life-breath of their life. May such as these be the lowest of the low and base-born, may (they) be reckoned unlearned, all the same, they are not a whit inferior to Me in greatness. Just consider the very demons (daitya): by the power of their devotion (to Me), they made their rivals, the Gods, sink into degradation. Born in the demon race, My devotee Prahlada won his eternal glory by making Me incarnate as Nrisimha. That great Prahlada suffered the worst tortures in God’s name, and therefore, did by his mere word command all that I would give.

Born though he was of the demon family, the very Indra could not equal him in rank and glory. The one crucible here, therefore, is devotion and passionate love to God; all else like race or caste is the merest trash. A scrap of leather has power to buy all things, if made to wear the royal insignia: without these even gold and silver fail as measure of things and the royal sign then becomes the proper measure of things; and a piece of leather bearing such royal insignia, is enough to buy all things. Even so does perfect virtue blossom into eternal life and infinite knowledge ripened into fulfilment. Only then, and not till then—entire soul and mind is filled with love for Me. Purity of race, family and caste is then all false and empty. Oh Arjuna, life’s real meaning and vital essence lies in being possessed of My love and devotion.

Take whatever path for your devotion, once the mind is filled with such devotion, the devotee enters into Me, and all his past sins and imperfections are wiped off. The brooks and streams run their impure, separate courses only till they meet the Ganges: and once they have joined the Ganges, they become one with the Ganges. Sandal wood and Khair (catachu) are differently named so long as they are not consumed by fire. Even so, men are separate in caste, race, family and sex till they are absorbed into My infinite eternal being. This feeling (of separation) of single man from caste and class becomes null and void, when caste and class are all merged into My essential being, like salt in the sea. Rivers and streams, large and small, are seen to flow eastwards and westwards, so long as they have not flown into the sea.

Whichsoever be the path by which the soul is drawn to My being, once it enters into My divine life eternal, it of its own accord becomes one with Me. Iron changes into gold, the moment it touches the Paris-stone, even if it be to break it. And did not the Gopis seeking to win Me for amorous passion become united with Me in My divine life? And did not Kamsa out of fear, Shishupala and others seeking to be at feud with Me, become one with Me? The Yadavas were bound to Me by blood ties, and Vasudeva and others by filial love,—they reached My eternal abode. Narada, Dhruva, Akrura, Shuka, Sanantkumara all won eternal life through their deep devotion for Me. In the same way the Gopis won My divine love through their amorous passion for Me, and Kamsa through the delusive passion of terror, while Shishupala and others through their wickedness and enmity towards Me. Verily I am the eternal abode of Peace to all those that seek it, whatever be the channel of their feelings towards Me, be it devotion, renunciation, love, hatred.

Therefore see, Oh Partha, pathvays to enter into My divine home are manifold indeed. May be, the caste into which thou art born is the lowest, and may be, thy ruling passion be love or hatred; the love or hatred should turn to Me. Whichever then is the pathvay by which thou seekest Me—being one with Me is the goal within thy reach. Therefore, Arjuna, all alike—men and women of whatever caste,—whether Vaishya or Shudra, or the meanest shall enter into My divine home as soon as they love and worship Me.