Bhagavad Gita · 9.1 · Yoga through the King of Sciences·1 of 34
श्री भगवानुवाच इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे।ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥
śhrī bhagavān uvācha idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ
pravakṣhyāmyanasūyave jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitaṁ yaj jñātvā mokṣhyase ’śhubhāt
Sanskrit recitation
A royal secret, simply held · 9.1–9.10 · Teaching
Translation
The Blessed Lord said, "I shall now declare to thee, who does not cavil, the greatest secret—the knowledge combined with experience (Self-realisation). Having known this, thou shalt be free from evil."
Meaning
Idam (this) alludes to knowledge of the Self.Jnana Theoretical knowledge of Brahman through the study of the Upanishads, also known as Paroksha Brahma Jnana.Vijnana Direct intuitive perception of Brahman or AtmaSakshatkara, also known as Aparoksha Brahma Jnana.This alone forms the direct means of attaining to liberation from evil or the bondage of Samsara, freedom from birth and death.The knowledge of the Self is the most profound secret. It can hardly be described in words. It can be realised only through direct experience or spiritual intuition. Atman or Brahman or the selfluminous, eternal, Supreme Purusha is ever shining in the chambers of the hearts of men. Throughout the ages there have always been a few who have trodden the spiritual path and found out this secret or the spiritual treasure of the precious pearl of the Self. Knowledge of the Self is the only direct means for attaining liberation, Karma Yoga purifies the heart and leads to the dawn of the knowledge of the Self.Lord Krishna says, O Arjuna, I shall teach you this profoundest secret knowledge combined with realisation as you are free from jealousy. From this we can clearly understand that freedom from jealousy is an important qualification for an aspirant. Knowledge can only dawn in a mind which is free from all forms of jealousy which causes great distraction of the mind and produces intense heartburning
After Swami Sivananda
A royal secret, simply held· 9.1–9.10→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
9.1The Blessed Lord said, "I shall now declare to thee, who does not cavil, the greatest secret—the knowledge combined with experience (Self-realisation). Having known this, thou shalt be free from evil."
- 9.2This is the royal science, the royal secret, the supreme purifier, realizable by direct intuitive knowledge, according to righteousness, very easy to perform and imperishable.
- 9.3Those who have no faith in this Dharma, O Parantapa, return to the path of this world without attaining Me.
- 9.4All of this world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest aspect; all beings exist within Me, but I do not dwell within them.
- 9.5Nor do beings exist in Me (in reality); behold, My divine Yoga, which supports all beings, but does not dwell in them, is My Self, the efficient cause of beings.
- 9.6As the mighty wind, moving everywhere, always rests in the ether, so too, know that all beings rest in Me.
- 9.7All beings, O Arjuna, go into My Nature at the end of a Kalpa; I send them forth again at the beginning of the next Kalpa.
- 9.8Animating My Nature, I again and again send forth all this multitude of beings, helpless under the force of Nature.
- 9.9These acts do not bind Me, O Arjuna, sitting as one indifferent, unattached to those acts.
- 9.10Under Me, as supervisor, Nature produces the moving and the unmoving; therefore, O Arjuna, the world revolves.
Word-by-word→
- te
- to you
- tu
- but
- yat
- which
- idam
- this
- sahitam
- with
- jñānam
- knowledge
- jñātvā
- knowing
- vijñāna
- realized knowledge
- anasūyave
- nonenvious
- aśhubhāt
- miseries of material existence
- guhya-tamam
- the most confidential
- mokṣhyase
- you will be released
- pravakṣhyāmi
- I shall impart
- śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
- the Supreme Lord said
Related verses
- 9.33How much more easily, then, do Brahmins and devoted royal saints attain the goal? Having…
- 2.59The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the longing behind;…
- 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is…
- 4.39The one who is full of faith, devoted to it, and has subdued their senses obtains this…