Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 72

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा ।
कच्चिदज्ञानसम्मोहः प्रनष्टस्ते धनञ्जय ॥

Transliteration

kaccidetacchrutaṃ pārtha tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā .
kaccidajñānasammohaḥ pranaṣṭaste dhanañjaya ॥

Meaning

Have you heard this, O Partha, with a focused mind? Has your delusion born of ignorance been destroyed, O Dhananjaya?

Word meanings

कच्चित् – whether, have (interrogative)
एतत् – this
श्रुतम् – heard
पार्थ – O Partha
त्वया – by you
एकाग्रेण – one-pointed
चेतसा – with mind
कच्चित् – whether
अज्ञानसम्मोहः – delusion born of ignorance
प्रनष्टः – completely destroyed
ते – your
धनञ्जय – O Dhananjaya

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, कच्चित् त्वया एतत् एकाग्रेण चेतसा श्रुतम्? धनञ्जय, कच्चित् ते अज्ञानसम्मोहः प्रनष्टः?

Explanation

The teaching of the Gita is now complete. Like an ideal teacher, Krishna asks his disciple two questions. These are the Lord's final words in the Gita. The first: kachchid etach chhrutam partha tvayaikagrena chetasa — have you heard this with a focused mind? This question concerns the quality of listening. The effect of knowledge depends on how attentively and single-mindedly it is received. A teaching heard with a scattered mind does not reach the heart.

The second: kachchid ajnana-sammohah pranashtas te dhananjaya — has your delusion born of ignorance been destroyed? This question concerns the result. The aim of teaching is not information but transformation. The Gita began with Arjuna's delusion; in the first chapter he sank down in his chariot, overwhelmed by confusion and grief. Now Krishna wants to see whether that delusion, born of ignorance, has been completely — pranashta — destroyed.

These questions reveal the Lord's boundless patience and compassion. Shankara says Krishna asks this so that, if Arjuna had not understood properly, he could explain again. This is the teacher's sense of responsibility towards the student. A true teacher does not stop at speaking; he also checks what the student has received.

The two addresses, Partha and Dhananjaya, remind Arjuna of who he is: son of Pritha (Kunti), and the hero who wins wealth and victory. They signal that Arjuna is now ready to return to his true self and his svadharma.

Context

The preceding verses (18.67–71) described the glory of teaching, studying and hearing the Gita. This verse contains the Lord's final words in the Gita, asking Arjuna about the effect of the teaching. In the next verse (18.73) comes Arjuna's reply — his delusion is destroyed.

Life lesson

Receive any knowledge with a focused mind; only then does it reach the heart. The purpose of learning is not information but inner change — ask yourself whether your confusion has truly dissolved. A good teacher not only teaches but checks what the student has understood.

Key terms

Ekagra chetas: A focused, attentive mind
Ajnana-sammoha: Delusion and confusion born of ignorance
Pranashta: Completely destroyed
Kachchit: A gentle interrogative — 'have you...?'