Bhagavad Gita 9.32

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya

ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ

striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās

te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

 

Those born in conditions humble and meek,

Women, workers, or those seen as weak—

They too can seek shelter in me,

And attain life’s supreme destiny.

 

Many are the times, my Lord, when I feel unqualified for the responsibilities and challenges that are thrust upon me by life as I try to do my dharma. I fear that I just don’t have the skill to do what I am called to do.

Nonetheless, O Lord, bless me so that I remember that you are always in charge. Whatever situation has come into my life is not without your knowledge. Whatever burden I have to face, it is within your plan.

Undoubtedly, my dear Lord, there will be times when I may have to take the help of someone with more skill than I have, or I may well need to change the exact role I am playing eventually.

Through all such possibilities, bless me, my Lord, to have this assurance: you are always with me. Let doubts about my skill never overwhelm or paralyze me so much that I mentally check out of my life. Instead, through my devotional remembrance of you, O Lord, let me check in with you always—and let such a divine check-in provide me the strength to keep moving on in my life.

If I stay connected with you, my infallible Lord, then even if I am not moving closer to success in that particular role, I will always be moving closer to you—which is my life’s ultimate success.

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09.32 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.