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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
7.257.27

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.26

Krishna’s divine nature and knowledge

Īśvara · God

वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन ।

भविष्याणि च भूतानि मां तु वेद न कश्चन ॥ २६ ॥

vedāhaṁ samatītāni

vartamānāni cārjuna

bhaviṣyāṇi ca bhūtāni

māṁ tu veda na kaścana

Translation

O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows.

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 Knows Everything

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa knows the past, present, future, and all living beings, but no one knows Him.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa’s body is not material or perishable. He knows every living being as the Supersoul in each heart.

  3. 3

    To understand Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Person, we need Kṛṣṇa consciousness; impersonal realization alone is not enough.

Key points from the purport

Defeats that Krishna’s form is material, because Lord states here

I am fully cognizant of past, present and future (indicates Krishna has no material body)

I know all

No one knows Me

a

This verse also solves the question of personalism or impersonalism

If Krishna’s form is material and He changes bodies, then how can he remember past, present and future

e.g. Krishna instructed Visvasvan millions of years ago, but still remembers and recalls

b

Refutes — “Maya can cover The Supreme Lord”

Because He knows past, present and future

Analogy: Sun covered by the cloud – The covering of the clouds is only apparent to our limited vision; clouds cannot cover the sun, moon and other stars

Connected verses · 1

Texts 7.26 & 7.27

How and when Living entity gets covered by Maya. How to get free from this covering

Further reading

Bewilderment And Freedom By Knowing Krishna

Living entities bewilderment is caused by maya’s forcing him to see dualities

His freedom is caused by devotional service, which places him beyond those dualities

By being conscious of Krishna in devotional service, one can know Him even at the time of death

Chapter 7, section VI: Bewilderment And Freedom By Knowing Krishna
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vedaknow
  2. ahamI
  3. samatītānicompletely past
  4. vartamānānipresent
  5. caand
  6. arjunaO Arjuna
  7. bhaviṣyāṇifuture
  8. caalso
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 7.26 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 7.24Krishna’s divine nature and knowledgeBG 7.25Krishna’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.

  1. Learn
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  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction