CHAPTER 7: Knowledge/Wisdom of the Creator
©2001, TheBhagavatGita.com

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- the Supreme said; mayi -- to Me; asakta-manah -- mind attached; partha -- O son of Prtha; yogam -- self-realization; yunjan -- practicing; mat-asrayah -- in consciousness of Me ; asamsayam -- without doubt; samagram -- completely; mam -- Me; yatha -- how; jnasyasi -- you can know; tat -- that; srnu -- try to hear.

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

jnanam -- phenomenal knowledge; te -- unto you; aham -- I; sa -- with; vijnanam -- numinous knowledge; idam -- this; vaksyami -- shall explain; asesatah -- in full; yat -- which; jnatva -- knowing; na -- not; iha -- in this world; bhuyah -- further; anyat -- anything more; jnatavyam -- knowable; avasisyate -- remains.

I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge, both phenomenal and numinous. This being known, nothing further shall remain for you to know.

manusyanam -- of men; sahasresu -- out of many thousands; kascit -- someone; yatati -- endeavors; siddhaye -- for perfection; yatatam -- of those so endeavoring; api -- indeed; siddhanam -- of those who have achieved perfection; kascit -- someone; mam -- Me; vetti -- does know; tattvatah -- in fact.

Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.

bhumih -- earth; apah -- water; analah -- fire; vayuh -- air; kham -- ether; manah -- mind; buddhih -- intelligence; eva -- certainly; ca -- and; ahankarah -- false ego; iti -- thus; iyam -- all these; me -- My; bhinna -- separated; prakrtih -- energies; astadha -- eightfold.

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego -- all together these constitute My eight separated material energies.

apara -- inferior; iyam -- this; itah -- besides this; tu -- but; anyam -- another; prakrtim -- energy; viddhi -- just try to understand; me -- My; param -- superior; jiva-bhutam -- comprising the living entities; maha-baho -- O mighty-armed one; yaya -- by whom; idam -- this; dharyate -- is utilized or exploited; jagat -- the material world.

Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.

etat -- these two natures; yonini -- whose source of birth; bhuta-ni -- everything created; sarvani -- all; iti -- thus; upadharaya -- know; aham -- I; krtsnasya -- all-inclusive; jagatah -- of the world; prabhavah -- the source of manifestation; pralayah -- annihilation; tatha -- as well as.

All created beings have their source in these two natures. Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution.

mattah -- beyond Me; para-taram -- superior; na -- not; anyat kincit -- anything else; asti -- there is; dhananjaya -- O conqueror of wealth; mayi -- in Me; sarvam -- all that be; idam -- which we see; protam -- is strung; sutre -- on a thread; mani-ganah -- pearls; iva -- like.

O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.

rasah -- taste; aham -- I; apsu -- in water; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; prabha -- the light; asmi -- I am; sasi-suryayoh -- of the moon and the sun; pranavah -- the three letters a-u-m; sarva -- in all; vedesu -- the Vedas; sabdah -- sound vibration; khe -- in the ether; paurusam -- ability; nrsu -- in men.

O son of Kunti, I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound-current in ether and the ability in man.

punyah -- original; gandhah -- fragrance; prthivyam -- in the earth; ca -- also; tejah -- heat; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; vibhavasau -- in the fire; jivanam -- life; sarva -- in all; bhutesu -- living entities; tapah -- penance; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; tapasvisu -- in those who practice penance.

I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics.

bijam -- the seed; mam -- Me; sarva-bhutanam -- of all living entities; viddhi -- try to understand; partha -- O son of Prtha; sanatanam -- original, eternal; buddhih -- intelligence; buddhi-matam -- of the intelligent; asmi -- I am; tejah -- prowess; tejasvinam -- of the powerful; aham -- I am.

O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men.

balam -- strength; bala-vatam -- of the strong; ca -- and; aham -- I am; kama -- passion; raga -- and attachment; vivarjitam -- devoid of; dharma-aviruddhah -- not against religious principles; bhutesu -- in all beings; kamah -- sex life; asmi -- I am; bharata-rsabha -- O lord of the Bharatas.

I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sexuality that accords with religious principles, O lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna].

ye -- all which; ca -- and; eva -- certainly; sattvikah -- in goodness; bhavah -- states of being; rajasah -- in the mode of passion; tamasah -- in the mode of ignorance; ca -- also; ye -- all which; mattah -- from Me; eva -- certainly; iti -- thus; tan -- those; viddhi -- try to know; na -- not; tu -- but; aham -- I; tesu -- in them; te -- they; mayi -- in Me.

Know that all states of being -- be they of goodness, passion or ignorance -- are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything, but I am independent. I am not under the modes of material nature, for they, on the contrary, are within Me.

tribhih -- three; guna-mayaih -- consisting of the gunas; bhavaih -- by the states of being; ebhih -- all these; sarvam -- whole; idam -- this; jagat -- universe; mohitam -- deluded; na abhijanati -- does not know; mam -- Me; ebhyah -- above these; param -- the Supreme; avyayam -- inexhaustible.

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.

daivi -- transcendental; hi -- certainly; esa -- this; guna-mayi -- consisting of the three modes of material nature; mama -- My; maya -- energy; duratyaya -- very difficult to overcome; mam -- unto Me; eva -- certainly; ye -- those who; prapadyante -- surrender; mayam etam -- this illusory energy; taranti -- overcome; te -- they.

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

na -- not; mam -- unto Me; duskrtinah -- miscreants; mudhah -- foolish; prapadyante -- surrender; nara-adhamah -- lowest among mankind; mayaya -- by the illusory energy; apahrta -- stolen; jnanah -- whose knowledge; asuram -- demonic; bhavam -- nature; asritah -- accepting.

Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not accept and surrender unto Me.

catuh-vidhah -- four kinds of; bhajante -- render services; mam -- unto Me; janah -- persons; su-krtinah -- those who are pious; arjuna -- O Arjuna; artah -- the distressed; jijnasuh -- the inquisitive; artha-arthi -- one who desires material gain; jnani -- one who knows things as they are; ca -- also; bharata-rsabha -- O great one amongst the descendants of Bharata.

O best among the Bharatas, four kinds of pious men begin to render service unto Me -- those distressed, inquisitive, desiring material wealth, and those seeking knowledge of the Absolute.

tesam -- out of them; jnani -- one in full knowledge; nitya-yuktah -- always engaged; eka -- only; bhaktih -- in devotional service; visisyate -- is special; priyah -- very dear; hi -- certainly; jnaninah -- to the person in knowledge; atyartham -- highly; aham -- I am; sah -- he; ca -- also; mama -- to Me; priyah -- dear.

Of these, the one who is knowledgeable and who is always engaged in pure devotion is special. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.

udarah -- magnanimous; sarve -- all; eva -- certainly; ete -- these; jnani -- one who is in knowledge; tu -- but; atma eva- just like Myself; me -- My; matam -- opinion; asthitah -- situated; sah -- he; hi -- certainly; yukta-atma -- engaged in devotional service; mam -- in Me; eva -- certainly; anuttamam -- the highest; gatim -- destination.

All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but one who is situated in knowledge I consider to be just like My own self. Being engaged in My devotion service, he is sure to attain the highest and most perfect goal.

bahunam -- many; janmanam -- repeated births and deaths; ante -- after; jnana-van -- one who is in full knowledge; mam -- unto Me; prapadyate -- surrenders; vasudevah -- God; sarvam -- everything; iti -- thus; sah -- that; maha-atma -- great soul; su-durlabhah -- very rare to see.

After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto God, knowing God to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.

kamaih -- by desires; taih taih -- various; hrta -- deprived of; jnanah -- knowledge; prapadyante -- surrender; anya -- to other; devatah -- demigods; tam tam -- corresponding; niyamam -- regulations; asthaya -- following; prakrtya -- by nature; niyatah -- controlled; svaya -- by their own.

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.

yah yah -- whoever; yam yam -- whichever; tanum -- form of a demigod; bhaktah -- devotee; sraddhaya -- with faith; arcitum -- to worship; icchati -- desires; tasya tasya -- to him; acalam -- steady; sraddham -- faith; tam -- that; eva -- surely; vidadhami -- give; aham -- I.

I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity.

sah -- he; taya -- with that; sraddhaya -- inspiration; yuktah -- endowed; tasya -- of that demigod; aradhanam -- for the worship; ihate -- he aspires; labhate -- obtains; ca -- and; tatah -- from that; kaman -- his desires; maya -- by Me; eva -- alone; vihitan -- arranged; hi -- certainly; tan -- those.

Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.

anta-vat -- perishable; tu -- but; phalam -- fruit; tesam -- their; tat -- that; bhavati -- becomes; alpa-medhasam -- of those of small intelligence; devan -- to the demigods; deva-yajah -- the worshipers of the demigods; yanti -- go; mat -- My; bhaktah -- devotees; yanti -- go; mam -- to Me; api -- also.

Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees come to Me.

avyaktam -- nonmanifested; vyaktim -- personality; apannam -- achieved; manyante -- think; mam -- Me; abuddhayah -- less intelligent persons; param -- supreme; bhavam -- existence; ajanantah -- without knowing; mama -- My; avyayam -- imperishable; anuttamam -- the finest.

Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, The Supreme, Krishna, 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.

na -- nor; aham -- I; prakasah -- manifest; sarvasya -- to everyone; yoga-maya -- by internal potency; samavrtah -- covered; mudhah -- foolish; ayam -- these; na -- not; abhijanati -- can understand; lokah -- persons; mam -- Me; ajam -- unborn; avyayam -- inexhaustible.

I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible.

veda -- know; aham -- I; samatitani -- completely past; vartamanani -- present; ca -- and; arjuna -- O Arjuna; bhavisyani -- future; ca -- also; bhutani -- all living entities; mam -- Me; tu -- but; veda -- knows; na -- not; kascana -- anyone.

O Arjuna, as The Supreme, 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.

iccha -- desire; dvesa -- and hate; samutthena -- arisen from; dvandva -- of duality; mohena -- by the illusion; bharata -- O scion of Bharata; sarva -- all; bhutani -- living entities; sammoham -- into delusion; sarge -- while taking birth; yanti -- go; parantapa -- O conqueror of enemies.

O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.

yesam -- whose; tu -- but; anta-gatam -- completely eradicated; papam -- sin; jananam -- of the persons; punya -- pious; karmanam -- whose previous activities; te -- they; dvandva -- of duality; moha -- delusion; nirmuktah -- free from; bhajante -- engage in devotional service; mam -- to Me; drdha-vratah -- with determination.

Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in devotional service to Me with determination.

jara -- from old age; marana -- and death; moksaya -- for the purpose of liberation; mam -- Me; asritya -- taking shelter of; yatanti -- endeavor; ye -- all those who; te -- such persons; brahma -- Brahman; tat -- actually that; viduh -- they know; krtsnam -- everything; adhyatmam -- transcendental; karma -- activities; ca -- also; akhilam -- entirely.

Intelligent persons who are endeavoring for liberation from old age and death take refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they entirely know everything about transcendental activities.

sa-adhibhuta -- and the governing principle of the material manifestation; adhidaivam -- governing all the demigods; mam -- Me; sa-adhiyajnam -- and governing all sacrifices; ca -- also; ye -- those who; viduh -- know; prayana -- of death; kale -- at the time; api -- even; ca -- and; mam -- Me; te -- they; viduh -- know; yukta-cetasah -- their minds engaged in Me.

Those in full consciousness of Me, who know Me, the Supreme Lord, to be the governing principle of the material manifestation, of the demigods, and of all methods of sacrifice, can understand and engage their minds in Me, The Supreme, even at the time of death.