Gita 9.29
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः।
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्।।
samo 'haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo 'sti na priyaḥ ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpy aham
"I am equal to all beings; no one is hateful or dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion are in Me, and I am in them."
What This Means:
Krishna is impartial (sama)—He doesn't hate or favor anyone. Yet devotees have a special relationship: they are 'in Him' and He is 'in them.' Not contradiction—like the sun shining equally, but only open eyes receive light.
Going Deeper:
Divine impartiality doesn't mean identical outcomes. The sun gives equally, but a mirror reflects more than a stone. Devotees 'open' to Krishna, so more of His presence flows through them.
How To Apply This:
God's grace is available to all equally—but you must be receptive. Devotion is that receptivity. You're not earning favor; you're opening to what's already given.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Sama= Equal, impartialDveṣya= Hateful, dislikedPriya= Dear, favored