Listen, Arjuna, for I shall now reveal to you that profound knowledge, illuminated by direct realization, after knowing which there remains nothing else in this world to be known. Among thousands of people, perhaps one strives for perfection, and among those who strive and succeed, only one truly knows Me in My essential nature. Understand that My material energy is divided into eight parts: earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego. This is My lower nature. But beyond this, know that I have a higher, living energy—the very life-element by which this entire universe is sustained. Know that all beings originate from these two natures, for I am the source of the entire creation and the place into which it will eventually dissolve. There is nothing higher than Me, Arjuna. Everything that exists is strung upon Me, like clusters of jewels upon a thread. I am the taste in water, the light of the sun and the moon, and the sacred syllable *Om* in all the Vedas. I am the sound in the ether and the strength in men. I am the sweet fragrance of the earth and the brilliance in fire. I am the life-force in all beings and the austerity in those who practice penance. Know Me as the eternal seed of all existence, the intelligence of the wise, and the splendor of all that is glorious. I am the strength of the strong, devoid of selfish desire and passion, and I am the desire in all beings that is in harmony with dharma. All states of existence—whether in the mode of goodness, passion, or ignorance—manifest from Me. While they exist within Me, I am not contained by them. The entire world, deluded by these three modes of nature, fails to see Me as I truly am: the imperishable and supreme. This divine illusion of Mine, composed of these qualities, is difficult to overcome; yet those who surrender to Me alone easily cross beyond it. Only the foolish, the wicked, and the lowest of men—those whose discernment has been stolen by this illusion—refuse to seek Me. However, four kinds of virtuous people worship Me: those who are distressed, those who seek knowledge, those who desire material gain, and those who are wise. Of these, the wise person, who is ever-steadfast and devoted to the One, is supreme. I am exceedingly dear to the wise, and they are dear to Me. All these seekers are noble, but I consider the wise person to be My very Self, for they are established in Me as the ultimate goal. After many births, the man of wisdom finally takes refuge in Me, realizing that all that exists is *Vasudeva*, the Divine. Such a great soul is very rare indeed. Others, their knowledge clouded by various desires, worship lesser deities through specific rites, limited by their own nature. Yet, whatever form a devotee seeks to worship with faith, I make that faith of theirs firm and unflinching. Whatever they obtain through such worship is truly ordained by Me alone, but the results sought by these people of small understanding are perishable. Those who worship the gods go to them, but My devotees come to Me. The ignorant think that I, the unmanifest, have descended into a manifest form, not realizing My higher nature, which is immutable and supreme. I am not visible to everyone, veiled as I am by My divine illusion; this deluded world does not recognize Me, who am unborn and eternal. I know all beings of the past, the present, and the future, but no one truly knows Me. O Arjuna, all beings are born into delusion, bewildered by the pairs of opposites—such as pleasure and pain—that arise from desire and aversion. But those of virtuous deeds, whose sins are washed away, become free from these dualities and worship Me with firm resolve. Those who take refuge in Me, striving for liberation from old age and death, come to understand the nature of the Absolute, the individual self, and the mystery of action. And those who recognize Me as the governing principle of the material world, of the divine, and of all sacrifice—they, with hearts united in Me, remain conscious of Me even at the time of their death.