Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 1

English Translation

The Blessed Lord said However, to you who are not given to cavilling I shall speak of this highest secret itself, which is Knowledge [Jnana may mean Brahman that is Consciousness, or Its knowledge gathered from the Vedas (paroksa-jnana). Vijnana is direct experience (aparoksa-jnana).] combined with experience, by realizing which you shall be free from evil.

Detailed Commentary

।।9.1।। Explanation — *Idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ pravakṣyāmi anasūyave* — To draw attention to the subject that Bhagavan wishes to speak about, Bhagavan uses the word 'Idam' here. To elaborate on the glory of that *Tattva*, it is called 'Guhyatamam', meaning it is most confidential. Further, it is referred to as 'Rājaguhyam' and in the Eighteenth Chapter, as 'Sarvaguhyatamam'. Here, first by saying 'Guhyatamam', it is later said (in Gita 9.34) 'Manmanā bhava', and in the Eighteenth Chapter, first by saying 'Sarvaguhyatamam', it is later said (in Gita 18.65) 'Manmanā bhava'. This implies that the subject matter here and there is the same. This confidential *Tattva* cannot be revealed to everyone, because in it, Bhagavan describes His own glory. If this matter is told to someone who holds even a slight critical view towards Bhagavan, they might misunderstand it. Therefore, Bhagavan tells Arjuna, "You are free from critical views, and so I will tell you this confidential matter." Another meaning of 'Pravakṣyāmi' is that "I will state it clearly and specifically, that every human being is eligible to take refuge in Me. No matter who they are, even an evildoer or a sinner, by taking refuge, they attain Me." Bhagavan could not say everything He wanted to in the Seventh Chapter, hence the word 'Tu' is used. *Jñānaṁ vijñānasahitam* — To know that Bhagavan is the cause of this universe is 'Jñāna'. To experience that there is no other *Tattva* in the world apart from Him is 'Vijñāna'. 'Idam' and 'Guhyatamam' are characteristics of this Jñāna-Vijñāna. Knowing Jñāna and Vijñāna, you will be liberated from the inauspicious *Saṁsāra*. Those who do not believe in this get entangled in the cycle of *Māyā* and are repeatedly born and die. In 'Jñāna', it was stated that this world is pervaded by My unmanifest form; in 'Vijñāna', it was stated that I Myself am everything. Those who perform *Yajñas* and go to Svarga, and return when their merits are exhausted; those who practice unswerving devotion, I Myself bear their *Yoga-Kṣema*. Those who worship other *Devatās*, they are in reality worshipping Me, but in an incorrect way. Those who do not believe in Me, they fall. Those who have devotion for Me, I am in them. The five verses of 'Vijñāna' (9.30-34) explain this. *Yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt* — Liberation is attained from things that connect one to the inauspicious *Saṁsāra*. One must break one's false connection and become free from *Saṁsāra*. One is not liberated from one's true nature, but only from the belief in error. If a cloth is cleaned of its dirt, it becomes pure. Similarly, the *Jīva*, turning away from Bhagavan, gets entangled in the net of *Māyā* in *Saṁsāra* and remains in the cycle of birth and death. When it recognizes its own identity, comes near Bhagavan, it becomes free from the inauspicious. Bhagavan tells Arjuna that by knowing this Jñāna, you will be freed from the inauspicious. Indication — In the previous verse, the result of Jñāna along with Vijñāna was explained. Now, in the next verse, the glory of this Jñāna-Vijñāna is described.