Bhagavad-gītā 9.24

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च ।
न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥२४॥

ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ
bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mām abhijānanti
tattvenātaś cyavanti te

Word for word (synonyms)

aham
I
hi
surely
sarva
of all
yajñānām
sacrifices
bhoktā
enjoyer
ca
and
prabhuḥ
Lord
eva
also
ca
and
na
not
tu
but
mām
Me
abhijānanti
know
tattvena
in reality
ataḥ
therefore
cyavanti
fall down
te
they

Translation

I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.

Defined in the Gītā

Sacrifice

Which sacrifice is the greatest?

O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice of knowledge is greater than the sacrifice of material possessions. O son of Pṛthā, after all, the sacrifice of work culminates in transcendental knowledge.

Bhagavad-gītā 4.33

See the definition

Purport

Here it is clearly stated that there are many types of yajña performances recommended in the Vedic literatures, but actually all of them are meant for satisfying the Supreme Lord. Yajña means Viṣṇu. In the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly stated that one should only work for satisfying Yajña or Viṣṇu. The perfectional form of human civilization, known as varṇāśrama-dharma, is specifically meant for satisfying Viṣṇu. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says in this verse, "I am the enjoyer of all sacrifices because I am the supreme master." However, less intelligent persons, without knowing this fact, worship demigods for temporary benefit. Therefore they fall down to material existence and do not achieve the desired goal of life. If, however, anyone has any material desire to be fulfilled, he had better pray for it to the Supreme Lord (although that is not pure devotion), and he will thus achieve the desired result.

What this verse teaches

Demigod worship (pratīkopāsanā) – is a wrong way of worshiping Kṛṣṇa; by piety one attains heaven, but comes back to earth. One’s destination depends on one’s worship. Better worship Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 2

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.