Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 67

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥

Transliteration

idaṃ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana .
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo.abhyasūyati ॥

Meaning

This teaching should never be spoken by you to one who lacks austerity, to one without devotion, to one who does not wish to listen, nor to one who finds fault with me.

Word meanings

इदम् – this (teaching)
ते – by you
न – not
अतपस्काय – to one without austerity
न – not
अभक्ताय – to one without devotion
कदाचन – ever
न – not
च – and
अशुश्रूषवे – to one unwilling to listen or serve
वाच्यम् – should be spoken
न – not
च – and
माम् – me
यः – who
अभ्यसूयति – finds fault with, envies

Anvaya (word order)

इदं ते (उक्तं ज्ञानम्) अतपस्काय न, अभक्ताय कदाचन न, अशुश्रूषवे च न वाच्यम्; यः च माम् अभ्यसूयति (तस्मै अपि) न (वाच्यम्) ।

Explanation

Having revealed the supreme secret in the charama shloka, Krishna now explains to whom this knowledge should and should not be given. This is to protect the sanctity of the teaching, not to exclude anyone. Just as a precious seed is sown only in fertile soil, profound spiritual knowledge is given to one who is ready to receive it and live by it.

Four kinds of people are named to whom it should not be given. Atapaska — one without austerity, self-control or discipline. Such a person will treat this knowledge as mere intellectual entertainment and will not put it into practice. Abhakta — one without faith and devotion towards God and the teacher. Shankara says that even an ascetic, if he lacks devotion, should not be given this knowledge.

Ashushrushu — one without a genuine desire to listen or a spirit of service. On one who listens only to argue or to show off, this knowledge is wasted. And the fourth — yash cha mam abhyasuyati — one who finds fault with the Lord, regarding him as an ordinary man and disparaging or envying him. Placing this knowledge before such a person only leads him to scorn it further, which harms him alone.

The positive meaning should also be understood: this knowledge is for one who is self-disciplined, devoted, eager to learn and full of faith. These four qualities are the qualifications for receiving spiritual knowledge. The Upanishads follow the same tradition — knowledge is to be given to one who seeks it with humility and faith. It is also a message for teachers today: before giving knowledge, prepare the ground in the student to receive it.

Context

The previous verse gave the Gita's culminating teaching of total surrender. This verse explains to whom this secret knowledge should not be given. The next verse (18.68) describes the fruit attained by one who spreads this knowledge among devotees.

Life lesson

Receiving deep knowledge needs the soil of self-discipline, faith, curiosity and humility — cultivate these within you. Share knowledge, but do not force it on someone who will only mock it. Honouring what is sacred means entrusting it to the right hands.

Key terms

Atapaska: One lacking austerity and self-discipline
Abhakta: One lacking faith and devotion
Ashushrushu: One without real desire to listen or serve
Abhyasuya: Fault-finding, envy, disparagement