Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Verse 7.1
श्री भगवानुवाच मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः। असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु।।7.1।।
śhrī bhagavān uvācha mayyāsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśhrayaḥ asanśhayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tach chhṛiṇu
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; mayi—to me; āsakta-manāḥ—with the mind attached; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; yogam—bhakti yog; yuñjan—practicing; mat-āśhrayaḥ—surrendering to me; asanśhayam—free from doubt; samagram—completely; mām—me; yathā—how; jñāsyasi—you shall know; tat—that; śhṛiṇu—listen
Translation · English
The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, hear how you shall, without doubt, know Me fully, with your mind intent on Me, practicing Yoga and taking refuge in Me."
Deep Meaning · English
In this pivotal verse, Lord Krishna initiates the Seventh Chapter, transitioning Arjuna from the discipline of action (Karma Yoga) to the wisdom of absolute realization (Jnana-Vijnana Yoga). Krishna defines the methodology for attaining direct, experiential knowledge of the Divine: not through mere intellectual analysis, but through 'mayyasakta-manah'—an intentional, loving fixation of the mind upon the Infinite. By identifying himself as the 'ashraya' or the sole refuge, Krishna asserts that the seeker cannot perceive the Truth while relying on the transient ego or external supports; one must root their existence entirely in the Divine Presence. Furthermore, the term 'samagram' (the totality) implies that Krishna is not merely a localized deity or an avatar in human form, but the all-encompassing Reality—the immanent and the transcendent. The practice of Yoga here is not an abstract technique but a devotional intimacy. Krishna promises that this specific path—anchored in total dependence on the Lord—dissolves all 'samshayam' (doubts) that typically plague the path of knowledge. Thus, the verse sets the stage for a profound revelation: when the mind is surrendered, the barrier between the knower and the Known dissolves, allowing the seeker to perceive the Divine in its fullness without fragmentation.
True knowledge of the Absolute is not an intellectual acquisition, but an experiential realization gained by resting the mind exclusively in the Divine, thereby dissolving the dualistic barriers of doubt.
Connected Verses
The ultimate call to 'mad-ashrayah,' urging complete surrender as the path to liberation from all sin.
Emphasizes the supremacy of those who fix their minds on the Lord with unwavering faith as the highest yogis.
It continues this theme of sharing the most profound knowledge with the devotee who remains free from envy.
Explains that one who understands the divine nature of the Lord's birth and actions attains the state of non-return.
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