चतुर्विध भक्त

Caturvidha bhakta (चतुर्विध भक्त) means the four kinds of devotee. In chapter 7 the Lord says that four kinds of good people worship Him: the one in distress, the one who wants to know, the one who wants something, and the wise (Gita 7.16). The word for "fourfold" comes from this verse.

Something different brings each one to the Lord: pain, a question, a want, or recognition. The verse uses one word for all four, good people, and in the next verses the Lord calls all of them noble (Gita 7.18). Among them He calls the wise one the best, because he is always joined to Him, his devotion is to the One alone, and the love runs both ways (Gita 7.17).

Common misreading: that only the wise devotee's worship counts and the other three are lesser.

Better sense: all four are welcome. The one who calls out in trouble, the one who comes with a question and the one who comes with a wish have all turned to the Lord. The difference is in nearness, not in welcome. The wise one is nearest because he asks nothing of the Lord except the Lord.

The whole topic is in Four Kinds of Devotees.