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Chapter 10 · The Opulence of the Absolute · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 10 · The Opulence of the Absolute
10.1610.18

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 10.17

Arjuna accepts and asks to hear more

Īśvara · God

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् ।

केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया ॥ १७ ॥

kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogiṁs

tvāṁ sadā paricintayan

keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu

cintyo ’si bhagavan mayā

Translation

O Kṛṣṇa, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

How to Remember Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Arjuna asks how to know Kṛṣṇa, think of Him constantly, and remember Him in various forms.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that only surrendered souls and devotees can see Kṛṣṇa, who is hidden by His yoga-māyā energy.

  3. 3

    If spiritual understanding is difficult, try to see how Kṛṣṇa is represented in physical things, as the purport advises.

Key points from the purport

Hearing increases rememberance — By hearing of Krishna’s opulences one will ‘always remember Him’ and ‘think of Him’.

In this verse Arjuna asks the following questions:

How shall I constantly think of You

How shall I know You

In what various forms are You to be remembered

Further reading

Arjuna Accepts Krishna’s Position And Requests To Hear More

Of his opulences

Arjuna refers to previous authorities

Thus confirms Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Also by his own realisation)

Prays to Krishna to hear more of his glories so that he can always think of Him and remember Him

Otherwise Krishna will remain unknowable

Chapter 10, section III: Arjuna Accepts Krishna’s Position And Requests To Hear More
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kathamhow
  2. vidyām ahamshall I know
  3. yoginO supreme mystic
  4. tvāmYou
  5. sadāalways
  6. paricintayanthinking of
  7. keṣuin which
  8. keṣuin which
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 10.17 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 10.12Arjuna accepts and asks to hear moreBG 10.13Arjuna accepts and asks to hear moreBG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow falls
Live this todayKṛṣṇa in Every HeartA practice from BG 10.20, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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