Chapter 7, Verse 17 (Bhagavad Gita 7.17)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्ितर्विशिष्यते। प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः
Transliteration
teṣhāṁ jñānī nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir viśhiṣhyate priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa cha mama priyaḥ
Word Meanings
teṣhām—amongst these; jñānī—those who are situated in knowledge; nitya-yuktaḥ—ever steadfast; eka—exclusively; bhaktiḥ—devotion; viśhiṣhyate—highest; priyaḥ—very dear; hi—certainly; jñāninaḥ—to the person in knowledge; atyartham—highly; aham—I; saḥ—he; cha—and; mama—to me; priyaḥ—dear
Translation
Among these, the wise one who is ever steadfast and devoted to the One is the best; for I, Shri Krishna, am exceedingly dear to the wise, and they are dear to Me.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna identifies the 'Jnani' or the wise devotee as the highest among all seekers. This unique bond is founded on the reciprocity of love, where the devotee sees Krishna in everything and Krishna sees Himself in the devotee. This state of consciousness represents the ultimate transformation, where the seeker transcends the duality of the world and rests in the eternal embrace of Lord Krishna. By prioritizing this divine union, the practitioner aligns their entire existence with the cosmic truth. Ultimately, it teaches that the deepest wisdom is not mere intellectual knowledge, but the selfless love that binds the soul eternally to Shri Krishna.