Bhagavad Gita 9.9

na ca māṁ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañ-jaya

udāsīna-vad āsīnam asaktaṁ teṣu karmasu

 

By none of the world’s mess or distress,

Am I bound or tainted by its excess.

I see it all—neutral and peaceful,

Craving nothing, divinely purposeful.

 

My dear Lord, there is so much distress and destruction in the world that, for any thoughtful observer, it raises the question: is there any presiding divinity? And if there is, how does such a Lord allow such devastation?

When I face such profound questions, O my beloved Lord, let me not settle for pat answers; let me delve deeply into your message and mission so that I may understand your role rightly. Nothing happens without you, yet not everything happens because of you. You, my Lord, acknowledge the reality of our free will, and when we misuse it, you allow us to do so—so that we may learn from experience, develop our intelligence, and eventually choose wisely to love you.

Protect me, O ever-loving Lord, from thinking that you are uncaring—nothing could be further from the truth. It is because you care that you grant free will, even knowing it carries the risk of misuse.

Bless me, O infallible Lord, to find in you both shelter and strength—for healing, for growth, and for faith through whatever distresses or disasters may unfold. Amid all such realities, you reign forever as the supreme reality. May that understanding be my supreme guiding light in all situations and all decisions.

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09.09 O Dhanañjaya, all this work cannot bind Me. I am ever detached from all these material activities, seated as though neutral.