Chapter 7, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 7.3)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्िचद्यतति सिद्धये। यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्िचन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
Transliteration
manuṣhyāṇāṁ sahasreṣhu kaśhchid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaśhchin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ
Word Meanings
manuṣhyāṇām—of men; sahasreṣhu—out of many thousands; kaśhchit—someone; yatati—strives; siddhaye—for perfection; yatatām—of those who strive; api—even; siddhānām—of those who have achieved perfection; kaśhchit—someone; mām—me; vetti—knows; tattvataḥ—in truth
Translation
Among thousands of men, hardly one strives for perfection; and of those who strive and succeed, hardly one knows Me in truth.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna highlights the extreme rarity of spiritual awakening. Most people are occupied with mundane worldly desires, but Krishna reveals that the journey toward self-realization begins only when one consciously chooses to strive for perfection. Even among those few who pursue this spiritual path diligently, attaining an authentic, experiential knowledge of Krishna remains a profound mystery reserved for the rarest of souls. This teaches us that spiritual enlightenment is not a mass phenomenon but a deeply personal, arduous commitment. By understanding this, seekers learn to value their spiritual journey, knowing that Krishna recognizes and guides the persistent soul through the complexities of existence.