Chapter 7, Verse 24 (Bhagavad Gita 7.24)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
अव्यक्तं व्यक्ितमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः। परं भावमजानन्तो ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम्
Transliteration
avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ manyante mām abuddhayaḥ paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mamāvyayam anuttamam
Word Meanings
avyaktam—formless; vyaktim—possessing a personality; āpannam—to have assumed; manyante—think; mām—me; abuddhayaḥ—less intelligent; param—Supreme; bhāvam—nature; ajānantaḥ—not understanding; mama—my; avyayam—imperishable; anuttamam—excellent
Translation
The unintelligent think of Me, the Unmanifest, as having taken on form, not knowing My supreme, immutable, and transcendent nature.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna cautions Arjuna against the common error of limiting the infinite to finite perceptions. Because human senses are accustomed to physical forms, they struggle to comprehend the formless, transcendental essence of Lord Krishna. By failing to grasp His immutable nature, individuals often misunderstand the depth of His divinity. True spiritual growth begins when one moves beyond superficial appearances to realize the absolute, eternal presence of Krishna. This wisdom invites us to look past the material world and recognize the supreme, unchanging reality that sustains all existence.