Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 7 of 18 · 30 verses
Knowledge and Discernment
Jñāna Vijñāna Yoga
What this chapter teaches
Krishna reveals the two natures: the lower eightfold material nature and the higher spiritual energy. All existence is woven from these two. Knowing this is the supreme wisdom.
Krishna introduces the teaching of his two natures: aparā (lower) — comprising earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, ego — and parā (higher) — the conscious Life-force sustaining the universe. This higher nature is 'I' in an intimate cosmic sense. Those who worship other deities attain those deities; those who worship Krishna attain the Supreme. The chapter identifies four types of devotees: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of prosperity, and the person of wisdom.
All 30 verses — Sanskrit, transliteration, English
श्री भगवानुवाच मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः। असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु॥
śrī bhagavānuvāca mayyāsaktamanāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjanmadāśrayaḥ | asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tacchṛṇu ||
The Blessed Lord said O Partha, hear how you, having the mind fixed on Me, practising the Yoga of Meditation and taking refuge in Me, will know Me with certainly and in fulness.
ज्ञानं तेऽहं सविज्ञानमिदं वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः। यज्ज्ञात्वा नेह भूयोऽन्यज्ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते॥
jñānaṁ te'haṁ savijñānamidaṁ vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ | yajjñātvā neha bhūyo'nyajjñātavyamavaśiṣyate ||
I shall tell you in detail of this Knowledge which is combined with realization, [From the statement, 'jnasyasi, you will know', in the earlier verse, one may conclude that the Lord is speaking of indirect or theoretical knowledge. The word 'idam, this' rules out such a conclusion; and it has also been said that this Knowledge is 'savijnanam, combined with direct experienece, realization'; it is Consciousness.] after experience which there remains nothing else here to be known again.
मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्िचद्यतति सिद्धये। यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्िचन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः॥
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaśicadyatati siddhaye | yatatāmapi siddhānāṁ kaśicanmāṁ vetti tattvataḥ ||
Among thousands of men a rare one endeavours for perfection. Even of the perfected ones who are diligent, one perchance knows Me in truth.
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च। अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा॥
bhūmirāpo'nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhireva ca | ahaṅkāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛtiraṣṭadhā ||
This Prakrti of Mine is divided eight-fold thus: earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and also egoism.
अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्। जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत्॥
apareyamitastvanyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām | jīvabhūtāṁ mahābāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat ||
O mighty-armed one, this is the inferior (Prakrti). Know the other Prakrti of Mine which, however, is higher than this, which has taken the from of individual souls, and by which this world is uphelp.
एतद्योनीनि भूतानि सर्वाणीत्युपधारय। अहं कृत्स्नस्य जगतः प्रभवः प्रलयस्तथा॥
etadyonīni bhūtāni sarvāṇītyupadhāraya | ahaṁ kṛtsnasya jagataḥ prabhavaḥ pralayastathā ||
Understand thus that all things (sentient and insentient) have these as their source. I am the origin as also the end of the whole Universe.
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय। मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव॥
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyatkiñcidasti dhanañjaya | mayi sarvamidaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇigaṇā iva ||
O Dhananjaya, there is nothing else whatsoever higher than Myself. All this is strung on Me like pearls on a string.
रसोऽहमप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभास्मि शशिसूर्ययोः। प्रणवः सर्ववेदेषु शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु॥
raso'hamapsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśisūryayoḥ | praṇavaḥ sarvavedeṣu śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu ||
O son of Kunti, I am the taste of water, I am the effulgence of the moon and the sun; (the letter) Om in all the Vedas, the sound in space, and manhood in men.
पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ। जीवनं सर्वभूतेषु तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु॥
puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca tejaścāsmi vibhāvasau | jīvanaṁ sarvabhūteṣu tapaścāsmi tapasviṣu ||
I am also the sweet fragrance in the earth; I am the brillinace in the fire, and the life in all beings; and I am the austerity of the ascetics.
बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम्। बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्॥
bījaṁ māṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ viddhi pārtha sanātanam | buddhirbuddhimatāmasmi tejastejasvināmaham ||
O Partha, know Me to be the eternal Seed of all beings. I am the intellect of the intelligent, I am the courage of the courageous.
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्। धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ॥
balaṁ balavatāṁ cāhaṁ kāmarāgavivarjitam | dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo'smi bharatarṣabha ||
And of the strong I am the strength which is devoid of passion and attachment. Among creatures I am desire which is not contrary to righteousness, O scion of the Bharata dyansty.
ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये। मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि नत्वहं तेषु ते मयि॥
ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasāstāmasāśca ye | matta eveti tānviddhi natvahaṁ teṣu te mayi ||
Those things that indeed are made of (the ality of ) sattva, and those things that are made of (the ality of) rajas and tamas, know them to have sprung from Me alone. However, I am not in them; they are in Me!
त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्। मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम्॥
tribhirguṇamayairbhāvairebhiḥ sarvamidaṁ jagat | mohitaṁ nābhijānāti māmebhyaḥ paramavyayam ||
All this world, deluded as it is by these three things made of the gunas (alities), does not know Me who am transcendental to these and undecaying.
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया। मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते॥
daivī hyeṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā | māmeva ye prapadyante māyāmetāṁ taranti te ||
Since this divine Maya of Mine which is constituted by the gunas is difficult to cross over, (therefore) those who take refuge in Me alone cross over this Maya.
न मां दुष्कृतिनो मूढाः प्रपद्यन्ते नराधमाः। माययापहृतज्ञाना आसुरं भावमाश्रिताः॥
na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ | māyayāpahṛtajñānā āsuraṁ bhāvamāśritāḥ ||
The foolish evildoers, who are the most depraved among men, who are deprived of (their) wisdom by Maya, and who resort to demoniacal ways, do not take refuge in Me.
चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन। आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ॥
caturvidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛtino'rjuna | ārto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha ||
O Arjuna, foremost of the Bharata dynasty, four classes of people of virtuous deeds adore Me: the afflicted, the seeker of Knowledge, the seeker of wealth and the man of Knowledge.
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्ितर्विशिष्यते। प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः॥
teṣāṁ jñānī nityayukta ekabhakitarviśiṣyate | priyo hi jñānino'tyarthamahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ ||
Of them, the man of Knowledge, endowed with constant steadfastness and one-pointed devotion, excels. For I am very much dear to the man of Knowledge, and he too is dear to Me.
उदाराः सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्। आस्थितः स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्॥
udārāḥ sarva evaite jñānī tvātmaiva me matam | āsthitaḥ sa hi yuktātmā māmevānuttamāṁ gatim ||
All of these, indeed, are noble, but the man of Knowledge is the very Self. (This is) My opinion. For, with a steadfast mind, he is set on the path leading to Me alone who am the super-excellent Goal.
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते। वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः॥
bahūnāṁ janmanāmante jñānavānmāṁ prapadyate | vāsudevaḥ sarvamiti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ||
At the end of many births the man of Knowledge attains Me, (realizing) that Vasudeva is all. Such a high-souled one is very rare.
कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः। तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया॥
kāmaistaistairhṛtajñānāḥ prapadyante'nyadevatāḥ | taṁ taṁ niyamamāsthāya prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā ||
People, deprived of their wisdom by desires for various objects and guided by their own nature, resort to other deities following the relevant methods.
यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति। तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम्॥
yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitumicchati | tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ tāmeva vidadhāmyaham ||
Whichever form (of a deity) any devotee wants to worship with faith, that very firm faith of his I strengthen.
स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते। लभते च ततः कामान्मयैव विहितान् हि तान्॥
sa tayā śraddhayā yuktastasyārādhanamīhate | labhate ca tataḥ kāmānmayaiva vihitān hi tān ||
Being imbued with that faith, that person engages in worshipping that form, and he gets those very desired results therefrom as they are dispensed by Me alone.
अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम्। देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि॥
antavattu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tadbhavatyalpamedhasām | devāndevayajo yānti madbhaktā yānti māmapi ||
That result of theirs who are of poor intellect is indeed limited. The worshippers of gods go to the gods. My devotees go to Me alone.
अव्यक्तं व्यक्ितमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः। परं भावमजानन्तो ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम्॥
avyaktaṁ vyakitamāpannaṁ manyante māmabuddhayaḥ | paraṁ bhāvamajānanto mamāvyayamanuttamam ||
The unintelligent, unaware of My supreme state which is immutable and unsurpassable, think of Me as the unmanifest that has become manifest.
नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः। मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम्॥
nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yogamāyāsamāvṛtaḥ | mūḍho'yaṁ nābhijānāti loko māmajamavyayam ||
Being enveloped by yoga-maya, I do not become manifest to all. This deluded world does not know Me who am birthless and undecaying.
वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन। भविष्याणि च भूतानि मां तु वेद न कश्चन॥
vedāhaṁ samatītāni vartamānāni cārjuna | bhaviṣyāṇi ca bhūtāni māṁ tu veda na kaścana ||
O Arjuna, I know the past and the present as also the future beings; but no one knows Me!
इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत। सर्वभूतानि संमोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप॥
icchādveṣasamutthena dvandvamohena bhārata | sarvabhūtāni saṁmohaṁ sarge yānti parantapa ||
O scion of the Bharata dynasty, O destroyer of foes, due to the delusion of duality arising from likes and dislikes, all creatures become bewildered at the time of their birth.
येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः॥
yeṣāṁ tvantagataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām | te dvandvamohanirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛḍhavratāḥ ||
On the other hand, those persons who are of virtuous deeds, whose sin has come to an end, they, being free from the delusion of dulaity and firm in their convictions, adore Me.
जरामरणमोक्षाय मामाश्रित्य यतन्ति ये। ते ब्रह्म तद्विदुः कृत्स्नमध्यात्मं कर्म चाखिलम्॥
jarāmaraṇamokṣāya māmāśritya yatanti ye | te brahma tadviduḥ kṛtsnamadhyātmaṁ karma cākhilam ||
Those who strive by resorting to Me for becoming free from old age and death, they know that Brahman, everything about the individual Self, and all about actions. [They know Brahman as being all the individual entities and all actions. This verse prescribes meditation on the alified Brahman for aspirants of the middle class. Verses beginning with the 14the speak about the reaization of the unalified Brahman by aspirants of the highest class.]
साधिभूताधिदैवं मां साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः। प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः॥
sādhibhūtādhidaivaṁ māṁ sādhiyajñaṁ ca ye viduḥ | prayāṇakāle'pi ca māṁ te viduryuktacetasaḥ ||
Those who know me as existing in the physical and the divine planes, and also in the context of the sacrifice, they of concentrated minds know Me even at the time of death.
In the Jivana app every verse also carries a word-by-word Sanskrit glossary, audio recitation where available, and a private reflection journal. Chapters 1–3 are free; this chapter is included with Jivana Premium.