Chapter IX · Śloka 24
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च ।
न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥
न तु मामभिजानन्ति तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥
ahaṃ hi sarva-yajñānāṃ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca |
na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaś cyavanti te ||
na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaś cyavanti te ||
For I am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices; but those who do not know Me in truth fall down.
The sole recipient of all ritual energy is the Lord, whether the worshipper knows it or not. Ignorance of this fact leads to rebirth rather than liberation — the journey ends at the deity addressed rather than at the source.