चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन | आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ||७-१६||
caturvidhā bhajante māṃ janāḥ sukṛtino.arjuna . ārto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha ||7-16||
Chapter 7 · Verse 16
Jnana Vijnana Yoga
ज्ञानविज्ञानयोग
In plain words
The distressed is he who is suffering from a chronic and incurable disease he whose life is in jeopardy on account of earthake volcanic eruption thunder attack by a dacoit or enemy or tiger etc. When Draupadi and Gajendra were in great distress they worshipped the Lord. These are the instances of Aarta Bhakti.
Translation
7.16 Four types of men of good deeds worship Me, O Arjuna, These are the distressed, the seekers after knowledge, the wealth-seekers, and the men of knowledge.
Meaning
The distressed is he who is suffering from a chronic and incurable disease he whose life is in jeopardy on account of earthake volcanic eruption thunder attack by a dacoit or enemy or tiger etc. When Draupadi and Gajendra were in great distress they worshipped the Lord. These are the instances of Aarta Bhakti. Jijnasu is the enirer. He is dissatisfied with this world. There is a void in his life. He always feels that sensual pleasure is not the highest form of happiness and there is yet pure eternal bliss unmixed with grief and pain which is to be found within. Janaka and Uddhava were devotees of this type. Seeker of wealth is he who craves for money wife children position name and fame. Sugriva. Vibhishana. Upamanyu and Dhruva were all devotees of this type. The wise are the men of knowledge who have attained to Selfillumination. Sukadeva was a JnaniBhakta. Kamsa. Sishupala and Ravana thought of the Lord constantly on account of fear and hatred (VairaBhakti). Hence they are also regarded as devotees. Be devoted to God whatever be your motive. Devotion will purify the motive in due course.
Word by word
चतुर्विधाः four kinds भजन्ते worship माम् Me जनाः people सुकृतिनः virtuous अर्जुन O Arjuna आर्तः the distressed जिज्ञासुः the seeker of knowledge अर्थार्थी the seeker of wealth ज्ञानी the wise च and भरतर्षभ O lord of the Bharatas.