The battlefield of कुरुक्षेत्र is alive with tension. On one side stand the पाण्डवाः, led by अर्जुन, and on the other, the कौरवाः. In the heart of this chaos, the महाभारत gives us a moment of stillness: a deep conversation between श्रीकृष्ण and अर्जुन. As the armies wait, अर्जुन is torn by doubt and despair, and श्रीकृष्ण becomes his guide, revealing truths that go far beyond the battlefield.
Chapter 7, called ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगः (the Yoga of knowledge and lived realization), marks a turning point in the गीता. Here, श्रीकृष्ण shifts from discussing the nature of action and duty to unveiling the deeper mysteries of knowledge (ज्ञान) and realization (विज्ञान). This is not just book learning or philosophy; it is the kind of understanding that transforms how you see yourself and the world.
Looking ahead, the next chapter turns to अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः, with questions about Brahman, the inner Self, action, remembrance at the time of death, and the imperishable goal. But here, in ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगः, the groundwork is laid: understanding and experience, knowledge and realization, are both needed to walk the spiritual path.
ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमः
अथ सप्तमोऽध्यायः
ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगः
Translation (भावार्थ):
Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the seventh chapter, titled 'The Yoga of Knowledge and Realization.'
श्री भगवानुवाच
मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः ।
असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु ॥1॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The Blessed Lord said: O Arjuna, listen as I explain how, with your mind focused on Me, practicing Yoga and relying on Me as your sole support, you can come to know Me fully and without any doubt.
ज्ञानं तेऽहं सविज्ञानम् इदं वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः ।
यज्ज्ञात्वा नेह भूयोऽन्यत् ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते ॥2॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
I will explain to you fully this knowledge, along with direct realization, after knowing which there is nothing further left to be known in this world.
मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये ।
यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥3॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Out of thousands of people, only a rare individual strives for spiritual accomplishment. Even among those who strive and reach perfection, only a rare one truly understands Me as I am.
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च ।
अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥4॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego are the eight distinct aspects into which My material nature is divided.
अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम् ।
जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥5॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
This lower nature of Mine has been described, but know that there is another, higher nature of Mine, which is the living principle that sustains the entire universe, O mighty-armed Arjuna.
एतद्योनीनि भूतानि सर्वाणीत्युपधारय ।
अहं कृत्स्नस्य जगतः प्रभवः प्रलयस्तथा ॥6॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Understand that all beings, without exception, arise from these two sources. I am both the origin and the dissolution of the entire universe.
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत् किञ्जिदस्ति धनञ्जय ।
मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव ॥7॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, there is nothing at all that is higher than Me. Everything in this world is held together by Me, just as pearls are strung on a thread.
रसोऽहमप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभाऽस्मि शशिसूर्ययोः ।
प्रणवः सर्ववेदेषु शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु ॥8॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, I am the taste found in water, the radiance in the moon and the sun, the sacred syllable Om in all the Vedas, the sound that pervades space, and the strength or vitality within men.
पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ ।
जीवनं सर्वभूतेषु तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु ॥9॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
I am the pure fragrance found in the earth, the brilliance present in fire, the life force within all living beings, and the spirit of austerity in those who practice discipline.
बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम् ।
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् ॥10॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, understand that I am the everlasting seed from which all living beings arise. I am the intelligence found in the wise, and the brilliance and strength present in those who are powerful.
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् ।
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥11॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Among the strong, I am that strength which is free from selfish desire and attachment. In all beings, I am the desire that does not go against righteousness, Arjuna.
ये चैव सात्त्विका भावाः राजसास्तामसाश्च ये ।
मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि ॥12॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Whatever states or qualities exist in the world, whether they are pure, passionate, or inert, know that all of them arise from Me alone. Still, I am not contained within these qualities, though they exist within Me.
त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैः एभिः सर्वमिदं जगत् ।
मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम् ॥13॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
All of this world is confused by these three qualities of nature and their resulting states. Because of this delusion, people do not recognize Me, who am beyond these qualities and never subject to change.
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया ।
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ॥14॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
This divine power of mine, made up of the qualities of nature, is very hard to overcome. But those who seek refuge in me alone can cross beyond this illusion.
न मां दुष्कृतिनो मूढाः प्रपद्यन्ते नराधमाः ।
माययाऽपहृतज्ञानाः आसुरं भावमाश्रिताः ॥15॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Those who act with malice and ignorance, who are the lowest among people, whose understanding is clouded by illusion, and who embrace a demonic mindset, do not turn to Me for refuge.
चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन ।
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥16॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, four types of virtuous people approach Me: those who are suffering, those who seek knowledge, those who desire material gain, and those who possess wisdom.
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्तः एक भक्तिर्विशिष्यते ।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थम् अहं स च मम प्रियः ॥17॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Among these, the wise person who is always steadfast and devoted to the One stands out. I am extremely dear to this person of knowledge, and he is also very dear to Me.
उदाराः सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम् ।
आस्थितः स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम् ॥18॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
All these devotees are truly noble, but in My view, the person of knowledge is like My own Self. With unwavering mind, that person is devoted to Me alone as the highest goal.
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते ।
वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः ॥19॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
After countless lifetimes, a wise person comes to Me, realizing that Vasudeva is everything. Such a great soul is truly rare.
कामैस्तै स्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः ।
तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया ॥20॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Those whose understanding has been clouded by various desires, and who are shaped by their own inherent tendencies, turn to other deities and follow specific rituals and disciplines connected to them.
यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति ।
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥21॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Whenever a devotee wishes to worship any particular form with faith, I make that faith steady and unwavering in them.
स तया श्रद्धया युक्तः तस्याराधनमीहते ।
लभते च ततः कामान् मयैव विहितान्हि तान् ॥22॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Endowed with that faith, a person sincerely worships the chosen form and receives the objects of desire from that worship. Yet, it is truly I alone who grant those results.
अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम् ।
देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि ॥23॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The rewards gained by those with limited understanding are temporary. Those who worship the gods reach the gods, but My devotees come to Me.
अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः ।
परं भावमजानन्तः ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम् ॥24॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Those who lack true understanding see Me as having taken on a visible form from an invisible state. They do not realize My supreme, unchanging, and unsurpassed nature.
नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः ।
मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम् ॥25॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Because I am covered by my own divine power, I am not visible to everyone. This confused world fails to recognize me as the one who is birthless and unchanging.
वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन ।
भविष्याणि च भूतानि मां तु वेद न कश्चन ॥26॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, I know all beings of the past, present, and future, but no one truly knows Me.
इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत ।
सर्वभूतानि सम्मोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप ॥27॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, all living beings are born into confusion because of the delusion created by the pairs of opposites, which arise from desire and aversion.
येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ।
ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ताः भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः ॥28॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
But those people whose sins have come to an end through virtuous actions, who are free from the confusion caused by dualities, and who are steadfast in their commitment, they worship Me with unwavering devotion.
जरामरणमोक्षाय मामाश्रित्य यतन्ति ये ।
ते ब्रह्म तद्विदुः कृत्स्नम् अध्यात्मं कर्म चाखिलम्॥29॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Those who earnestly seek freedom from aging and death by taking shelter in Me come to understand Brahman, the complete truth about the self, and the entirety of actions.
साधिभूताधिदैवं मां साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः ।
प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः ॥30॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Those who understand Me as the essence behind the physical world, the divine forces, and the principle of sacrifice, and who keep their minds steady and focused, recognize Me even at the moment of death.
॥ ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासु उपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां
योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगो नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः
Translation (भावार्थ):
Thus ends the seventh chapter, called the Yoga of Knowledge and Realization, in the revered Bhagavad Gita, which is an Upanishad, a scripture of spiritual wisdom and discipline, presented as a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.
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