Bhagavad Gita 7.1

Jnana Vijnana Yoga · English Translation

The Blessed Lord said O Arjuna, hear how you shall without doubt know Me fully, with the mind intent on Me, practising Yoga and taking refuge in Me.

Sanskrit

श्रीभगवानुवाच | मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः | असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु ||७-१||

Transliteration

śrībhagavānuvāca . mayyāsaktamanāḥ pārtha yogaṃ yuñjanmadāśrayaḥ . asaṃśayaṃ samagraṃ māṃ yathā jñāsyasi tacchṛṇu ||7-1||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna to offer a promise of complete clarity about the Divine nature. He states that if one fixes their mind on Him with total devotion and takes refuge in His guidance while practicing spiritual discipline, they will understand God fully without any doubt or confusion. The key teaching is that unwavering focus combined with surrender leads to perfect knowledge of the Ultimate Reality.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse sits at the intersection of Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga within Vedanta philosophy. It teaches that true knowledge (Jnana) of the Divine is not merely intellectual but is achieved through loving surrender (Bhakti) and single-pointed meditation, suggesting that devotion and wisdom are two sides of the same coin.

Word by Word

मयि on Me, आसक्तमनाः with mind intent, पार्थ O Partha, योगम् Yoga, युञ्जन् practising, मदाश्रयः taking refuge in Me, असंशयम् without doubt, समग्रम् wholly, माम् Me, यथा how, ज्ञास्यसि shall know, तत् that, श्रृणु hear

Classical Commentary

He who wishes to attain some result or reward performs the ritual known as Agnihotra or does charity, sinks wells, builds hospitals, resting places, etc., with Sakama Bhavana (with an inner profit motive) and attains them. But the Yogi on the contrary practises Yoga with a steadfast mind and takes refuge in the Lord alone, with the mind wholly fixed on Him, on His lofty attributes such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, infinite love, beauty, grace, strength, mercy, inexhaustible wealth, ineffable splendour, pristine glory and purity. The servant of a king, though he constantly serves the king, has not got his mind fixed on him. The mind is ever fixed on his wife and children. Unlike the servant, fix your mind on Me? (the allpervading One), and take refuge in Me alone. Practise control of the mind in accordance with the instructions given in chapter VI. Then you will know Me and My infinite attributes in full. If you sing the glory and the attributes of the Lord, you will develop love for Him and then your mind will be fixed on Him. Intense love for the Lord is real devotion. You must get full knowledge of the Self without any doubt. He who has taken refuge in the Lord, and he who is trying to fix or has fixed his mind on the Lord cannot bear the separation from the Lord even for a second.

Where This Happens

This verse opens Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, taking place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during a momentary pause after Arjuna's initial despair. Just before this, Krishna had explained the difference between matter and spirit (Chapters 2-6), but Arjuna still felt overwhelmed by the complexity of duty versus family bonds. Now that Arjuna is receptive, Krishna shifts from explaining abstract philosophy to offering a direct path for personal realization.

Living It Out Today

When facing an overwhelming career crisis or making a life-altering decision where every option seems fraught with risk, instead of spiraling into anxiety, one should take a moment to 'take refuge' in their core values and higher purpose. By consciously directing all mental energy toward that guiding principle (mind intent) rather than scattering attention on fears or external opinions, clarity naturally emerges. This approach transforms the paralysis of indecision into confident action based on inner wisdom.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are trying to find a hidden treasure map, but it's very foggy and confusing. Krishna tells Arjuna: 'If you hold my hand tight (take refuge), look only at me while we walk together (mind intent on Me), and keep walking the right path (practising Yoga), then suddenly the fog will clear! You won't just guess where the treasure is; you will see it clearly in your heart without any worries.'

Daily Reflection

Today, notice how often your attention drifts away from what truly matters to chasing fleeting distractions. Krishna invites you not just to know Him intellectually, but to anchor your heart in a relationship where He becomes the very ground of your existence. When you practice this surrender with genuine feeling, even small challenges transform into moments of deep connection rather than obstacles.

A Practice for Today

Sit quietly and gently bring your awareness to the space between thoughts, visualizing it as a vessel where you place every worry and desire before the Divine presence within. As you breathe in, silently affirm that your mind is now resting fully on this source of peace, letting go of all need for control or separate achievement.

Key Teachings

The Power of Mental Anchoring
True knowledge begins when the mind ceases to wander and becomes firmly fixed on the Divine as its sole object. This unwavering focus is not a forceful suppression, but a natural settling that occurs through sincere devotion.
Yoga as Active Surrender
The verse defines Yoga here as the active discipline of uniting one's will with God's while simultaneously taking refuge in His grace. It is a dynamic practice where action and surrender become two sides of the same spiritual coin.
Certainty Through Intimacy
Full knowledge of the Divine removes all doubt because it comes from direct, personal experience rather than second-hand theory. When one takes refuge in God with an attached heart, the truth reveals itself as self-evident and complete.

Themes

Divine KnowledgeDevotion and SurrenderMeditation FocusFaith without DoubtSpiritual Practice (Yoga)Relationship with the Divine

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 18.66 9.13 18.58

Read This Next

2.47 — This verse establishes the foundational principle of performing duty without attachment, which prepares the ground for taking full refuge.
3.30 — It expands on the act of surrendering all actions to God, deepening the theme of madāśrayaḥ (taking refuge in Me).
12.15 — This verse describes the qualities of a devotee who has successfully attained this state of being fully known and knowing God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the specific meaning of 'madāśrayaḥ' in this verse?

'Madāśrayaḥ' translates to 'taking refuge in Me.' It implies a complete surrender where one stops relying solely on their own limited intellect and places total trust in the Divine guidance. This is not passive helplessness, but an active choice to align one's will with God's will.

How does this verse connect devotion (Bhakti) with knowledge (Jnana)?

The verse teaches that you cannot truly know the Divine through intellect alone; it requires a mind fixed on Him ('mayyāsaktamanāḥ') and surrender. It suggests that when one engages in spiritual practice while maintaining devotion, intellectual confusion is cleared to reveal direct experiential knowledge.

What does 'without doubt' (asaṃśaya) imply about spiritual understanding?

'Asaṃśaya' implies that the resulting knowledge of God will be absolute, clear-cut, and free from skepticism or confusion. Unlike worldly opinions which are often debated, this verse promises a certainty gained through direct realization when one follows the path Krishna outlines.

Who is 'Pārtha' in this context and why does Krishna call him that?

'Pārtha' means 'Son of Pritha,' referring to Arjuna, who was born from Queen Kunti (Pritha). Krishna uses this name affectionately throughout the Gita to remind Arjuna of his lineage as a warrior and his potential for greatness, grounding the divine instruction in their personal relationship.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 7.1 →