Sanatan Gyan
Geeta GyanDeitiesFestivalsCalendarAbout
हिन्दीGeeta Gyan
Geeta GyanDeitiesFestivalsCalendarAbout
← Back to Geeta Gyan
Chapter 7 / 18

Jnana Vijnana Yoga

The seventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Gyaan Vigyana Yoga ". In this chapter, Krishna reveals that he is the Supreme Truth, the principal cause and the sustaining force of everything. He reveals his illusionary energy in this material world called Maya, which is very difficult to overcome but those who surrender their minds unto Him attain Him easily. He also describes the four types of people who surrender to Him in devotion and the four kinds that don't. Krishna confirms that He is the Ultimate Reality and those who realize this Truth reach the pinnacle of spiritual realization and unite with the Lord.

What to notice

Krishna maps the world through his own powers, and even names Maya as his energy. Devotion here is not blindness; it is seeing that the visible world rises from one source.

A small practice

Look at one thing in nature today and remember the order behind it, not only its use.

Famous Shloks

Verses in this chapter

30 verses are given in full below — read them without leaving the chapter.

  1. Verse 01

    श्री भगवानुवाच मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः। असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु।।7.1।।

    śhrī bhagavān uvācha mayyāsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśhrayaḥ asanśhayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tach chhṛiṇu

    The Lord said, "With your mind focused on Me, taking Me as your support, and practicing yoga—how can you, without doubt, know Me fully? Hear, O Arjuna."

  2. Verse 02

    ज्ञानं तेऽहं सविज्ञानमिदं वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः। यज्ज्ञात्वा नेह भूयोऽन्यज्ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते।।7.2।।

    jñānaṁ te ’haṁ sa-vijñānam idaṁ vakṣhyāmyaśheṣhataḥ yaj jñātvā neha bhūyo ’nyaj jñātavyam-avaśhiṣhyate

    I will declare to you in full this knowledge of God, along with the knowledge that makes it distinguished, knowing which nothing else remains to be known.

  3. Verse 03

    मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्िचद्यतति सिद्धये। यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्िचन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः।।7.3।।

    manuṣhyāṇāṁ sahasreṣhu kaśhchid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaśhchin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

    Among thousands of men, some strive for perfection; even among those who strive for perfection, only some know Me; and among those who know Me, only some truly know Me.

  4. Verse 04

    भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च। अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा।।7.4।।

    bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā

    Earth, water, fire, air, ether, Manas, Buddhi, and the ego-sense—thus My Prakriti is divided into eight parts.

  5. Verse 05

    अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्। जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत्।।7.5।।

    apareyam itas tvanyāṁ prakṛitiṁ viddhi me parām jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat

    This is My lower Prakṛti. But, O mighty-armed one, know that My higher nature is another. It is the life-principle (Jīva-bhūta), by which this universe is sustained.

  6. Verse 06

    एतद्योनीनि भूतानि सर्वाणीत्युपधारय। अहं कृत्स्नस्य जगतः प्रभवः प्रलयस्तथा।।7.6।।

    etad-yonīni bhūtāni sarvāṇītyupadhāraya ahaṁ kṛitsnasya jagataḥ prabhavaḥ pralayas tathā

    Know that all beings have these two as the source of their birth. Therefore, I am the origin and the dissolver of the whole universe.

  7. Verse 07

    मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय। मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव।।7.7।।

    mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñchid asti dhanañjaya mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva

    There is nothing higher than Me, O Arjuna. All this is strung on Me, like rows of gems on a thread.

  8. Verse 08

    रसोऽहमप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभास्मि शशिसूर्ययोः। प्रणवः सर्ववेदेषु शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु।।7.8।।

    raso ’ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śhaśhi-sūryayoḥ praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣhu śhabdaḥ khe pauruṣhaṁ nṛiṣhu

    I am the taste in the waters, O Arjuna! I am the light in the sun and the moon; the sacred syllable Om in all the Vedas; sound in the ether; and manhood in men, I am.

  9. Verse 09

    पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ। जीवनं सर्वभूतेषु तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु।।7.9।।

    puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛithivyāṁ cha tejaśh chāsmi vibhāvasau jīvanaṁ sarva-bhūteṣhu tapaśh chāsmi tapasviṣhu

    I am the pure scent in the earth; I am the radiance in the fire; I am the life-force in all beings, and austerity in ascetics.

  10. Verse 10

    बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम्। बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्।।7.10।।

    bījaṁ māṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ viddhi pārtha sanātanam buddhir buddhimatām asmi tejas tejasvinām aham

    Know Me, O Arjuna, to be the primeval seed of all beings. I am the intelligence of the discerning and the brilliance of the brilliant.

  11. Verse 11

    बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्। धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ।।7.11।।

    balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāma-rāga-vivarjitam dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣhabha

    In the strong, I am strength, devoid of desire and passion. In all beings, I am the desire which is not contrary to Dharma, O Arjuna.

  12. Verse 12

    ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये। मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि नत्वहं तेषु ते मयि।।7.12।।

    ye chaiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasās tāmasāśh cha ye matta eveti tān viddhi na tvahaṁ teṣhu te mayi

    Know that all those states of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas are from Me alone; however, I am not in them; rather, they are in Me.

  13. Verse 13

    त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्। मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम्।।7.13।।

    tribhir guṇa-mayair bhāvair ebhiḥ sarvam idaṁ jagat mohitaṁ nābhijānāti māmebhyaḥ param avyayam

    The entire universe is deluded by these three states originating from the Gunas (of Prakrti), and fails to recognize Me, who am beyond them and immutable.

  14. Verse 14

    दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया। मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते।।7.14।।

    daivī hyeṣhā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te

    (a) For this divine Maya or Mine, consisting of the three Gunas (assumed for purposes of sport), is hard to overcome. ৷৷ (b) ৷৷ But those who take refuge in Me alone shall pass beyond the Maya.

  15. Verse 15

    न मां दुष्कृतिनो मूढाः प्रपद्यन्ते नराधमाः। माययापहृतज्ञाना आसुरं भावमाश्रिताः।।7.15।।

    na māṁ duṣhkṛitino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ māyayāpahṛita-jñānā āsuraṁ bhāvam āśhritāḥ

    The evil-doers, the foolish, the lowest of men, those persons deprived of knowledge by delusion (Maya) and those who are dominated by a demoniac nature - they do not seek refuge in Me.

  16. Verse 16

    चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन। आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ।।7.16।।

    chatur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛitino ’rjuna ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī cha bharatarṣhabha

    Four types of men of good deeds worship Me, O Arjuna: the distressed, the seekers of knowledge, the seekers of wealth, and the men of knowledge.

  17. Verse 17

    तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्ितर्विशिष्यते। प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः।।7.17।।

    teṣhāṁ jñānī nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir viśhiṣhyate priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa cha mama priyaḥ

    Of these, the man of knowledge, who is ever with Me in Yoga and devoted to the One only, is the foremost; for I am very dear to the man of knowledge, and he is also dear to Me.

  18. Verse 18

    उदाराः सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्। आस्थितः स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्।।7.18।।

    udārāḥ sarva evaite jñānī tvātmaiva me matam āsthitaḥ sa hi yuktātmā mām evānuttamāṁ gatim

    All these are indeed generous, but I deem the man of knowledge to be My very self; for he, integrated, is devoted solely to Me as the highest end.

  19. Verse 19

    बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते। वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः।।7.19।।

    bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

    At the end of many births, the man of knowledge finds refuge in Me, realizing that 'Vasudeva is all.' It is very difficult to find such a great-souled person.

  20. Verse 20

    कामैस्तैस्तैर्हृतज्ञानाः प्रपद्यन्तेऽन्यदेवताः। तं तं नियममास्थाय प्रकृत्या नियताः स्वया।।7.20।।

    kāmais tais tair hṛita-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛityā niyatāḥ svayā

    Controlled by their inherent nature, and deprived of knowledge by various desires, worldly-minded people resort to other gods, observing various disciplines.

  21. Verse 21

    यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति। तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम्।।7.21।।

    yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śhraddhayārchitum ichchhati tasya tasyāchalāṁ śhraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmyaham

    Whichever devotee seeks to worship with faith whatever form, I make their faith steadfast.

  22. Verse 22

    स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते। लभते च ततः कामान्मयैव विहितान् हि तान्।।7.22।।

    sa tayā śhraddhayā yuktas tasyārādhanam īhate labhate cha tataḥ kāmān mayaiva vihitān hi tān

    Endowed with that faith, he worships that form and thereby gets the objects of his desire, granted in reality by Me alone.

  23. Verse 23

    अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम्। देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि।।7.23।।

    antavat tu phalaṁ teṣhāṁ tad bhavatyalpa-medhasām devān deva-yajo yānti mad-bhaktā yānti mām api

    But the fruit gained by these men of small understanding is limited. The worshippers of the gods will go to the gods, but My devotees will come to Me.

  24. Verse 24

    अव्यक्तं व्यक्ितमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः। परं भावमजानन्तो ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम्।।7.24।।

    avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ manyante mām abuddhayaḥ paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mamāvyayam anuttamam

    Not knowing My higher, immutable, and unsurpassed nature, the ignorant think of Me as an entity that has now become manifest, though I was previously unmanifest.

  25. Verse 25

    नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः। मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम्।।7.25।।

    nāhaṁ prakāśhaḥ sarvasya yoga-māyā-samāvṛitaḥ mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti loko mām ajam avyayam

    Veiled by my Maya, I am not manifest to all; this deluded world does not recognize me as the unborn and immutable.

  26. Verse 26

    वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन। भविष्याणि च भूतानि मां तु वेद न कश्चन।।7.26।।

    vedāhaṁ samatītāni vartamānāni chārjuna bhaviṣhyāṇi cha bhūtāni māṁ tu veda na kaśhchana

    I know all beings, O Arjuna, past, present, and those to come; but no one knows Me.

  27. Verse 27

    इच्छाद्वेषसमुत्थेन द्वन्द्वमोहेन भारत। सर्वभूतानि संमोहं सर्गे यान्ति परन्तप।।7.27।।

    ichchhā-dveṣha-samutthena dvandva-mohena bhārata sarva-bhūtāni sammohaṁ sarge yānti parantapa

    O Arjuna, all beings are deluded as soon as they are born, due to the delusion of the pairs of opposites springing from desire and hate.

  28. Verse 28

    येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः।।7.28।।

    yeṣhāṁ tvanta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛiḍha-vratāḥ

    But those who have done good deeds, whose sins have come to an end, are freed from the delusion of the pairs of opposites. They steadfastly worship Me, adhering to their vows.

  29. Verse 29

    जरामरणमोक्षाय मामाश्रित्य यतन्ति ये। ते ब्रह्म तद्विदुः कृत्स्नमध्यात्मं कर्म चाखिलम्।।7.29।।

    jarā-maraṇa-mokṣhāya mām āśhritya yatanti ye te brahma tadviduḥ kṛitsnam adhyātmaṁ karma chākhilam

    Those who take refuge in Me and strive for deliverance from old age and death, know Brahman (or the Self) and all about the nature of that Self, and the entire Karma (or activities leading to rebirth).

  30. Verse 30

    साधिभूताधिदैवं मां साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः। प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः।।7.30।।

    sādhibhūtādhidaivaṁ māṁ sādhiyajñaṁ cha ye viduḥ prayāṇa-kāle ’pi cha māṁ te vidur yukta-chetasaḥ

    And those who know Me with the Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajna, they too, with their minds fixed in meditation, know Me even at the hour of death.


  31. 30 verses · Meaning is kept with the chapter. Plain meaning after Swami Adidevananda. Essence notes on selected verses are ours.

← Chapter 6 · Dhyana YogaChapter 8 · Akshara Brahma Yoga →
Sanatan Gyan

The Gita, the deities, and the festivals — in language you can read at home.

Read
Geeta GyanDeitiesFestivalsCalendar
Site
AboutPrivacyTermsContact
© 2026 Sanatan GyanWisdom grows when shared.