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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 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 ›
Krishna’s natureChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
6.477.2

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.1

The promise of knowing Krishna in full

Īśvara · God

श्रीभगवानुवाच

मय्यासक्तमना: पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रय: ।

असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha

yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ

asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ

yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Pṛthā, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

3 study points

Knowing Kṛṣṇa Through Hearing

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa says that practicing yoga with the mind attached to Him, fully conscious of Him, lets us know Him fully, without doubt.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that focusing the mind on Kṛṣṇa is the highest yoga. Only by hearing from Kṛṣṇa or His devotee can we truly understand Him.

  3. 3

    Hear regularly from Kṛṣṇa through the Bhagavad-gītā and from His pure devotees to grow steady in devotional service.

Key points from the purport

To always think of Krishna in devotion, one must hear about Krishna and His Supreme position. Now hear from Krishna Himself in this chapter

How to know Krishna in full?

Hear from Him

Practicing Bhakti Yoga, with

Mind attached to Him

In full consciousness of Him

a

Full and scientific knowledge is Krishna and not impersonal Brahman or Paramatma

“In full” – means to know Absolute Truth, living entity, material nature and their manifestations and paraphernalia

“Without doubt” – refers to firm faith that Krishna is the ultimate knowledge and realization

b

Krishna Consciousness process reveals full knowledge — because mind is fully attached to Krishna (Bg. 6.47)

c

Process to concentrate mind — nine fold process; first and foremost – Sravanam (Indicated by word ‘tac-chrnu’)

d

Whom to hear from — only Krishna or pure devotee/not non-devotee scholar

e

Process of understanding Krishna, Supreme Personality of Godhead, by hearing (Ref. SB 1.2.17-

21) – Steps for advancement are as follows:

Hearing about Krishna or from Him

By such hearing, Krishna in the heart acts as best wishing friend

Krishna purifies the devotee who is constantly engaged

Natural development of dormant transcendental knowledge

By more hearing, one becomes fixed in devotional service

Freedom from modes of passion and ignorance

Material lust and avarice are diminished

One becomes steady in pure goodness

One becomes enlivened by devotional service and understands the science of God perfectly

Hard knot of material affection is severed

One comes to the stage of ‘asamsayam samagram’ (complete understanding of Supreme Absolute Truth)

f

Conclusion: Only way to understand the science of Krishna — By hearing from Krishna or from His devotees

Further reading

Just Hear (Knowing Krishna By Hearing About Him)

Krishna requests Arjuna to hear of both His material and spiritual energies.

Declares that the transcendentalist who succeeds in truly knowing Him is most rare.

Chapter 7, section I: Just Hear (Knowing Krishna By Hearing About Him)
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Lord said
  2. mayito Me
  3. āsakta-manāḥmind attached
  4. pārthaO son of Pṛthā
  5. yogamself-realization
  6. yuñjanpracticing
  7. mat-āśrayaḥin consciousness of Me (Kṛṣṇa consciousness)
  8. asaṁśayamwithout doubt
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 7.1 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.2The promise of knowing Krishna in fullBG 7.3The promise of knowing Krishna in fullBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todayRecognizing the Source of MatterA practice from BG 7.4, close to this verse

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

  1. Learn
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