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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
7.237.25

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.24

Krishna’s divine nature and knowledge

Īśvara · God

अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धय: ।

परं भावमजानन्तो ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥

avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ

manyante mām abuddhayaḥ

paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto

mamāvyayam anuttamam

Translation

Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.

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

Kṛṣṇa Is Eternally Personal

  1. 1

    Those with little knowledge think Kṛṣṇa was once impersonal and later took a personal form. They do not know His eternal, supreme nature.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is known through devotional service and His mercy, not through study or speculation alone.

  3. 3

    Begin developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and serving Him with devotion.

Key points from the purport

“Impersonalists” are unintelligent — Due to their small knowledge, they do now know My higher nature which is imperishable and supreme

SUMMARISED THEME 7C IMPERSONALISTS A) Their philosophy:

Impersonal Brahman as Supreme

Krishna’s form and pastimes are temporary manifestations of Brahman in contact with matter(Mayavada)

They think of Krishna as an ordinary human, son of Vasudev and Devaki, or powerful living entity B) What knowledge they lack

Krishna is imperishable and Supreme (7.24)

Krishna is unborn and infallible (7.25)

Krishna knows past, present and future (7.26)

a

Based on Bhagavad-gita

Krishna Himself speaks Bg. 7.24 (Impersonalists are unintelligent) in His personal form

Bg. 4.6 mentions Lord is “aja” (unborn), but still appears

Bg. 7.20 and Bg. 7.23: Demigods and Lord Himself as having their personal planets which points out to personalism

Bg. 9.11: Fools deride Me as human

b

From different devotees/Acaryas

Yamunacharya – “only devotees like Vyasadeva and Narada Muni can know Your form and activities, non devotees under passion and ignorance can never know.

Brahma Samhita – Supreme Personality of Godhead not known by study of scriptures like Vedanta literatures but by mercy of the Lord.

Sankaracharya – Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead (His followers do not accept, and therefore they are even less intelligent because they do not follow their predecessors)

c

Why called Abuddhayah

Because no knowledge of ultimate feature (Bhagavan) of Absolute truth (Ref: SB)

d

Vedanta Sutra — Absolute truth is “ananda – mayo’byasat”

Full of unlimited bliss and auspicious qualities

e

How one cannot understand Krishna

By mental speculation or by simply discussing Vedic literatures (Ref. SB 10.14.29)

f

How one can understand — Only by devotional service, beginning with chanting

Connected verses · 2

Texts 7.23 & 7.24

In addition to the demigod worshipers, another class of men who surrender, but improperly, are the Impersonalists. They are described next.

Texts 7.24 & 7.25

Why Impersonalists who are detached from matter and are also transcendental are still unable to see Krishna. Why, although Krishna’s form and pastimes are eternal, they are not visible to everyone

Further reading

Surrender To Demigods And Impersonalism

Those who surrender to demigods and those who are impersonalists have no knowledge of Krishna and in their foolishness, do not surrender to Him

Chapter 7, section V: Surrender To Demigods And Impersonalism
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avyaktamnonmanifested
  2. vyaktimpersonality
  3. āpannamachieved
  4. manyantethink
  5. māmMe
  6. abuddhayaḥless intelligent persons
  7. paramsupreme
  8. bhāvamexistence
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 7.24 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

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 7 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.25Krishna’s divine nature and knowledgeBG 7.26Krishna’s divine nature and knowledgeBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todayKnowing Kṛṣṇa and SurrenderingA practice from BG 7.19, close to this verse

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

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