Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 69

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः ।
भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ॥

Transliteration

na ca tasmānmanuṣyeṣu kaścinme priyakṛttamaḥ .
bhavitā na ca me tasmādanyaḥ priyataro bhuvi ॥

Meaning

There is no one among human beings who does dearer service to me than he, nor will there ever be anyone on earth dearer to me than he.

Word meanings

न च – and not
तस्मात् – than him
मनुष्येषु – among human beings
कश्चित् – anyone
मे – to me
प्रियकृत्तमः – doing the dearest service
भविता – will be
न च – and not
मे – to me
तस्मात् – than him
अन्यः – another
प्रियतरः – dearer
भुवि – on earth

Anvaya (word order)

मनुष्येषु तस्मात् मे प्रियकृत्तमः कश्चित् न च (अस्ति); भुवि तस्मात् अन्यः मे प्रियतरः न च भविता ।

Explanation

This verse raises the previous one to a still greater height. Of the one who spreads the knowledge of the Gita among the Lord's devotees, Krishna says two things. First — na cha tasman manushyeshu kashchin me priya-krittamah — among human beings there is none who does me dearer service than he. That is, the act that pleases the Lord most is carrying his knowledge to receptive hearts.

Second — bhavita na cha me tasmad anyah priyataro bhuvi — nor will there ever be anyone on earth dearer to me than he. The future tense bhavita, 'will be', makes this timeless. It is true not only in Arjuna's day but forever.

Why is this so? Because one who gives spiritual knowledge to others helps remove their sorrow, fear and ignorance — and this is the Lord's own work. Krishna himself gave this teaching to dispel Arjuna's grief; one who carries this work forward becomes his co-worker. Material charity relieves the body's hunger, but the gift of knowledge relieves the soul's hunger; that is why the scriptures call the gift of knowledge the highest gift.

Shankara says here that none does the Lord dearer service than one who teaches the Gita. Ramanuja sees it as an expression of the Lord's love for his devotees — whoever serves his devotees is dearest to him.

Context

The previous verse said that one who teaches the Gita to devotees attains the Lord. This verse says such a person is dearest of all to the Lord. The next verse (18.70) describes the glory of one who studies the Gita.

Life lesson

Helping to remove ignorance, fear and sorrow from others' lives is the greatest service. The gift of knowledge surpasses even gifts of food and wealth, because its benefit endures. The most beautiful way to please God is to serve his children.

Key terms

Priya-krittama: One who does the dearest service
Priyatara: Dearer
Jnana-dana: The gift of spiritual knowledge — the highest gift