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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Krishna’s natureChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge

4.10 4.12

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.11

Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refuge

Īśvara · God

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।

मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ ११ ॥

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante

tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham

mama vartmānuvartante

manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

Translation

As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

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

3 study points

Kṛṣṇa Responds to Surrender

1
Kṛṣṇa rewards everyone according to how they surrender to Him. Everyone follows His path.
2
Prabhupāda explains that only pure devotees fully realize Kṛṣṇa and enjoy personally serving Him with love.
3
Whatever your desires, make every effort to worship Kṛṣṇa, for complete perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport

By hearing about Krishna many, many persons in the past became purified and attained love for Krishna. They attained love for Krishna because this was their desire and Krishna fulfilled it. What if someone takes shelter of Krishna with something other than a desire to achieve transcendental love for Him? Text 4.11 explains Krishna’s reciprocation with such category of souls

Connected verses · 1

Texts 4.11 & 4.12

One could then ask — “If Krishna, the Supreme Lord, gives a soul whatever he wants, why don’t more persons surrender to Him? Why do they worship others to fulfill their desires?” Krishna answers this question in Text 12.