Knowledge and Renunciation of Action - 04 - 03

The Shloka

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स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।

भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥

———

Sa evāyaṁ mayā te’dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ ।

Bhakto’si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṁ hyetaduttamam ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka highlights the profound importance of the relationship between the teacher and the disciple in the transmission of spiritual knowledge. Lord Krishna emphasizes that the ancient, sacred knowledge of Yoga is not to be revealed indiscriminately. Instead, it is given to Arjuna due to his specific qualifications: he is Krishna’s devotee (Bhakta) and friend (Sakha). This establishes a crucial principle in spiritual learning: devotion and trust are paramount for truly understanding and assimilating divine wisdom. The term ‘supreme secret’ (rahasyam uttamam) signifies that this knowledge is profound, transformative, and precious, reserved for those with genuine faith and an intimate connection with the divine teacher. It underscores that spiritual truths require a receptive and dedicated heart, far beyond mere intellectual curiosity.

That very ancient Yoga has been declared by Me to you today, because you are My devotee and friend. Therefore, this is indeed a supreme secret.

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that He is now revealing the same ancient, timeless Yoga that He taught long ago. The reason for sharing this profound knowledge with Arjuna is his dual qualification: he is both a devoted follower and an intimate friend of the Lord. Krishna declares this teaching to be a supreme and confidential secret.

Lord Krishna here reveals the core reason for imparting the profound and ancient knowledge of Yoga, which he has just described as being passed down through a lineage of kings and sages, but which was lost over time. He explicitly states that ‘this very ancient Yoga’ (‘sa evāyaṁ yogaḥ purātanaḥ’) is being ‘declared by Me to you today’ (‘mayā te’dya proktaḥ’). The emphasis is on the direct transmission from the divine to the individual seeker. The crucial point articulated in the second line is the qualification of the recipient: ‘because you are My devotee and friend’ (‘bhakto’si me sakhā ca iti’). Arjuna’s devotion (bhakti) signifies his faith, love, and surrender to the Lord, which makes his mind receptive to divine truths. His friendship (sakhā) indicates a relationship of intimacy, trust, and openness, allowing Krishna to share the most confidential knowledge without reservation. These two qualities—devotion and friendship—are presented as the ideal prerequisites for receiving spiritual wisdom. Finally, Krishna characterizes this teaching as ‘indeed a supreme secret’ (‘rahasyaṁ hi etad uttamam’). This does not mean it is meant to be literally hidden, but rather that its depth and transformative power are so immense that only a qualified, devoted, and trusted recipient can truly comprehend and benefit from it. It implies that this knowledge, though ancient and eternal, remains profound and confidential, not accessible to those lacking the proper spiritual disposition. It highlights that divine knowledge is not merely an academic pursuit but requires a heart purified by devotion and a mind open through trust.

Sentence - 1

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स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।

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Meaning

That very ancient Yoga has been declared by Me to you today.

Meaning of Words

स	Sa
That Refers to the same Yoga (spiritual discipline) that was mentioned in the previous verses, which Lord Krishna had taught to Vivasvan (the sun-god) in ancient times.
एवायम्	evāyam
This combination of ‘eva’ (indeed, certainly) and ‘ayam’ (this) emphasizes that ‘this very’ or ‘indeed this’ specific and profound spiritual knowledge is being referred to.
मया	mayā
by Me By Lord Krishna Himself, indicating the divine source of this knowledge.
ते	te
to you To Arjuna, the immediate recipient of this divine wisdom on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
अद्य	adya
today Refers to the present moment of the discourse on the battlefield, signifying that this ancient knowledge is being re-revealed now.
योगः	yogaḥ
A spiritual discipline or path that aims at uniting the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness. In this context, it refers to the knowledge of divine action and non-action (Karma Yoga) and the nature of the Supreme Being, as discussed in the preceding verses.
प्रोक्तः	proktaḥ
declared Revealed, expounded, or spoken. It implies a formal and authoritative declaration of the knowledge.
पुरातनः	purātanaḥ
ancient Dating back to primeval times, indicating that this knowledge is not new but has existed eternally and has been taught across different ages through a disciplic succession.

Sentence - 2

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भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥

———

Meaning

Because you are My devotee and friend, this is indeed a supreme secret.

Meaning of Words

भक्तोऽसि	bhaktaḥ
devotee Someone who has intense love, loyalty, and dedication towards a deity or a spiritual teacher. Here, Arjuna’s devotion to Krishna is highlighted as a qualification for receiving this knowledge.
असि	asi
you are The verb ‘to be’ in the second person singular, indicating Arjuna’s present state.
मे	me	My Belonging to Lord Krishna.
सखा	sakhā
friend A close companion, an intimate associate. This denotes a relationship of deep trust, affection, and equality, which is a rare and special qualification for receiving divine knowledge.
च	ca	and
इति	iti
thus Indicates the reason or cause, meaning ‘because of this’ or ‘for this reason.’
रहस्यं	rahasyam
Confidential knowledge, something profound that is not easily understood by everyone and is meant to be kept from those who are not prepared or deserving. It is not a secret in the sense of being hidden, but rather profound and not accessible without proper spiritual qualifications.
हि	hi	indeed
एतदुत्तमम्	etat
this Refers to the knowledge of Yoga being imparted.
उत्तमम्	uttamam
supreme Of the highest quality, excellent, best. It signifies that this knowledge is of the utmost importance and value among all spiritual teachings.

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