Shrimad Bhagavad Gita · 30 verses
Chapter 7: Knowledge and Realisation
Krishna describes his own nature: all creation rests in him like pearls on a thread. He describes four kinds of people who turn to God.
All verses, with meaning
7.1Knowing God fullyKrishna says: Partha, with your mind attached to me, taking refuge in me and practising yo…7.2Knowledge with realisationI will teach you this knowledge in full, together with its realisation, knowing which noth…7.3True knowers are rareAmong thousands of people, hardly one strives for perfection; and among those who strive a…7.4Eightfold natureEarth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and ego — these are the eight parts of my …7.5Higher and lower natureThis is my lower nature. Know my higher nature, different from it, mighty Arjuna — it is t…7.6Origin and end of allUnderstand that all beings arise from these two natures. I am the origin of the whole univ…7.7Pearls on a threadThere is nothing higher than me, Arjuna. All this is strung on me like pearls on a thread.7.8The essence in everythingI am the taste in water, Arjuna, the light of the moon and sun, the sacred syllable Om in …7.9Source of lifeI am the pure fragrance of the earth, the brilliance in fire, the life in all beings and t…7.10The eternal seedKnow me, Partha, as the eternal seed of all beings. I am the intelligence of the intellige…7.11Desire in line with dharmaIn the strong, I am strength free from lust and attachment. In beings, I am desire that do…7.12Three gunas come from GodKnow that all states of being — sattvic, rajasic and tamasic — come from me alone. Yet I a…7.13World deluded by the gunasDeluded by these states made of the three gunas, the whole world does not recognise me, wh…7.14Crossing maya by surrenderThis divine maya of mine, made of the gunas, is very hard to cross. But those who take ref…7.15Who does not seek GodEvil-doers, the foolish, the lowest of people, whose wisdom is stolen by maya and who have…7.16Four kinds of devoteesFour kinds of virtuous people worship me, Arjuna: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge,…7.17The wise devotee is dearOf these, the wise one — always united with me, devoted to me alone — is the best. I am ve…7.18The wise as God's own SelfAll of these are noble, but the wise one I see as my very Self. With a steady mind he hold…7.19Vasudeva is everythingAt the end of many births, the wise one surrenders to me, knowing "Vasudeva is all." Such …7.20Desire-driven worshipThose whose understanding is carried away by various desires turn to other gods, following…7.21God steadies all faithWhatever form a devotee wishes to worship with faith, I make that devotee's faith in that …7.22All gifts come from GodEndowed with that faith, he worships that deity and gains his wishes from it — yet those w…7.23Passing and lasting fruitBut the fruit gained by those of small understanding is perishable. Worshippers of the god…7.24God's supreme natureThe unwise think of me, the unmanifest, as one who has merely taken a form. They do not kn…7.25Veil of yoga-mayaVeiled by my yoga-maya, I am not revealed to all. This deluded world does not know me as u…7.26God knows allArjuna, I know all beings of the past, the present and the future — but no one knows me.7.27Delusion of likes and dislikesArjuna, from birth all beings fall into delusion through the confusion of opposites that a…7.28Firm devotionBut those of good deeds whose sins have come to an end are freed from the delusion of oppo…7.29Freedom from age and deathThose who take refuge in me and strive for freedom from old age and death come to know Bra…7.30Knowing God even at deathThose who know me as the basis of the material world, of the divine powers and of sacrific…