मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः । स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्ते सर्वे यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥
māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye'pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ | striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrāste sarve yānti parāṃ gatim ||
Translation
For, O Partha, those who take refuge in Me — even those of sinful birth, women, vaishyas, as well as shudras — they all attain the highest goal.
Interpretation
A radical declaration in its historical context: liberation is available to all — those of so-called sinful birth (excluded by birth from certain religious privileges), women (who were excluded from Vedic study in many traditions), vaishyas (merchants), and shudras (service communities). All, without exception, who take refuge in the Divine attain the highest destination. This is the Gita's revolutionary democratization of liberation: the path of devotion (bhakti) is open to every human being regardless of birth, gender, or social station. Divine grace recognizes no human hierarchy.