Bg. 9.32 · Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Devanagari

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्यु: पापयोनय: । स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा श‍ूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Verse text

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

Synonyms

mām — of Me ; hi — certainly ; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā ; vyapāśritya — particularly taking shelter ; ye — those who ; api — also ; syuḥ — are ; pāpa-yonayaḥ — born of a lower family ; striyaḥ — women ; vaiśyāḥ — mercantile people ; tathā — also ; śūdrāḥ — lower-class men ; te api — even they ; yānti — go ; parām — to the supreme ; gatim — destination.

Translation

O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth – women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] – can attain the supreme destination.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

32. Women, vaiśyas and śūdrās, and even the outcastes, if they surrender to Me, attain the supreme goal.

Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

32. Even those born in sinful situations, such as women, vaiśyas and śūdas, and even the outcastes, if they surrender to Me, attain Me, the supreme goal.

Purport

It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower and higher classes of people. In the material conception of life there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18) it is stated that even the lowest, who are called caṇḍālas (dog-eaters), can be purified by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and the guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking shelter of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance. According to the different modes of material nature, men are classified in the mode of goodness ( brāhmaṇas ), the mode of passion ( kṣatriyas, or administrators), the mixed modes of passion and ignorance ( vaiśyas, or merchants), and the mode of ignorance ( śūdras, or workers). Those lower than them are called caṇḍālas, and they are born in sinful families. Generally, the association of those born in sinful families is not accepted by the higher classes. But the process of devotional service is so strong that the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord can enable people of all the lower classes to attain the highest perfection of life. This is possible only when one takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa. As indicated here by the word vyapāśritya, one has to take shelter completely of Kṛṣṇa. Then one can become much greater than great jṣānīs and yogīs.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Is it so remarkable that My bhakti does not consider the accidental faults arising by actions of My misbehaving devotee? For My bhakti does not even consider the inherent faults of such a person which arise from his very birth. Even those of sinful birth (papa-yonayaḥ), outcastes or mlecchas, who surrender to Me, attain the supreme goal. kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ Kirāta, Huṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. SB 2.4.18 aho bata śva-paco ’to garīyān yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Āryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required. SB 3.33.7 What then to speak of women, vaiśyas or others who are impure or subject to bad qualities such as lying?

Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

“Going to the assembly of disputers with the loud sound of kettle drums, raising your arms, without fear, declare that I, the Supreme Lord, will purify My exclusive devotees of incidental sins.” “What is so remarkable about purifying those devotees who commit accidental or occasional sin?” “Even those who are the most sinful (and are not My devotees), by devotee association, become completely freed of ignorance, and become specially liberated.” That is expressed in this verse. “Even those of very sinful birth, outcastes (papa yonayaḥ), who have a natural inclination to sin, taking shelter of Me, the Lord of all, the son of Vasudeva, by association with My devotees, attain the supreme state (gatim). They attain Me, which is rare even for yogīs (param). This is certain.” Śukadeva says: kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. SB 2.4.18 In mentioning women, śūdras and vaiśyas, the Lord indicates that all those who are impure or have disagreeable qualities (by nature), by taking to devotional service, will attain the Lord.

Surrender Unto Me

Those of lower birth can be purified what to speak of those of high class.