यान्ति देवव्रता देवान् पितृ़न्यान्ति पितृव्रताः।
भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोऽपि माम्।।9.25।।
9.25 Votaries of the gods reach the gods; the votarites of the manes go to the manes; the worshippers of the Beings reach the Beings; and those who worship Me reach Me.
9.25 The term Vrata in the text denotes will, intention or motive. Those who intend to worship gods, like Indra and others with the resolution, Let us worship Indra and other gods by ceremonies like the new moon and full moon sacrifices - such worshippers go to Indra and other gods. Those who intend worshipping manes, resolving Let us worship the manes through sacrifices, - such worshippers go to the manes or others resolving - Let us worship the Yaksas, Raksasas, Pisacas and other evil spirits - they go to them. But those who, with the same rites of worship, worship Me with the intention, Let us worship Lord Vasudeva, the Supreme Self, whose body is constituted of gods, the manes and the evil spirits - they are My worshippers and they reach Me only. Those who intend worshipping gods etc., attain gods etc. After sharing limited enjoyment with them, they are destroyed with them when the time comes for their destruction. But My worshippers attain Me, who has no beginning or end, who is omniscient, whose will is unfailingly effective, who is a great ocean of innumerable auspicious attributes of unlimited excellence and whose bliss too is of limitless excellence. They do not return to Samsara. Such is the meaning. Sri Krsna continues to say, There is also another distinguishing characteristic of My worshippers.
Yaanti devavrataa devaan pitreen yaanti pitrivrataah; Bhutaani yaanti bhutejyaa yaanti madyaajino’pi maam.
yānti—go; deva-vratāḥ—worshipers of celestial gods; devān—amongst the celestial gods; pitṝīn—to the ancestors; yānti—go; pitṛi-vratā—worshippers of ancestors; bhūtāni—to the ghosts; yānti—go; bhūta-ijyāḥ—worshippers of ghosts; yānti—go; mat—my; yājinaḥ—devotees; api—and; mām—to Me
