nāham ijyā-prajātibhyāḿ
tapasopaśamena vā
tuṣyeyaḿ sarva-bhūtātmā
guru-śuśrūṣayā yathā
na -- not; aham -- I; ijya -- by ritual worship; prajatibhyam -- the higher birth of brahmana initiation; tapasa -- by austerity; upasamena -- by self-control; va -- or; tushyeyam -- can be satisfied; sarva -- of all; bhuta -- beings; atma -- the Soul; guru -- to one's spiritual master; susrushaya -- by faithful service; yatha -- as.
I, the Soul of all beings, am not as satisfied by ritual worship, brahminical initiation, penances or self-discipline as I am by faithful service rendered to one's spiritual master.
The word prajati here indicates either begetting good children or the second birth obtained by ritual initiation into Vedic culture. Although both of these are praiseworthy, Lord Krishna here states that faithful service rendered to a bona fide spiritual master is still higher.
