Chapter 7, Verse 18 (Bhagavad Gita 7.18)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
उदाराः सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्। आस्थितः स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्
Transliteration
udārāḥ sarva evaite jñānī tvātmaiva me matam āsthitaḥ sa hi yuktātmā mām evānuttamāṁ gatim
Word Meanings
udārāḥ—noble; sarve—all; eva—indeed; ete—these; jñānī—those in knowledge; tu—but; ātmā eva—my very self; me—my; matam—opinion; āsthitaḥ—situated; saḥ—he; hi—certainly; yukta-ātmā—those who are united; mām—in me; eva—certainly; anuttamām—the supreme; gatim—goal
Translation
All these seekers are indeed noble, but I regard the man of wisdom as My very Self. Being steadfast, he is established in Me alone as the supreme goal.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna elevates the 'Jnani'—the one who possesses ultimate wisdom—above all other seekers. While those who approach Lord Krishna for material gain or relief from suffering are virtuous, the wise person realizes that there is no distinction between the soul and the Divine. By recognizing Lord Krishna as their very essence, the devotee transcends the duality of 'I' and 'Thou'. This teaching invites us to shift our focus from seeking things from Lord Krishna to seeking union with Him, making Him the absolute anchor of our existence.