Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 76

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम् ।
केशवार्जुनयोः पुण्यं हृष्यामि च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

Transliteration

rājansaṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya saṃvādamimamadbhutam .
keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaṃ hṛṣyāmi ca muhurmuhuḥ ॥

Meaning

O King, as I recall again and again this wondrous and holy dialogue between Keshava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again.

Word meanings

राजन् – O King (Dhritarashtra)
संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य – recalling again and again
संवादम् – dialogue
इमम् – this
अद्भुतम् – wondrous
केशवार्जुनयोः – between Keshava (Krishna) and Arjuna
पुण्यम् – holy, purifying
हृष्यामि – I rejoice
च – and
मुहुः मुहुः – again and again

Anvaya (word order)

राजन्, केशवार्जुनयोः इमम् अद्भुतं पुण्यं संवादं संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य (अहं) मुहुः मुहुः हृष्यामि च ।

Explanation

The effect of the Gita dialogue on Sanjaya's heart is so deep that he cannot forget it. Samsmritya samsmritya — recalling it again and again — and hrishyami cha muhur muhuh — I rejoice again and again. The very repetition of the words reveals his emotion. As a sweet melody keeps echoing in the mind, so this dialogue keeps returning to Sanjaya's mind, bringing fresh joy each time.

Sanjaya calls the dialogue punyam — holy, merit-bestowing. Merely recalling it purifies the mind. In 18.71 Krishna said that even one who listens to it with faith is freed from sin; Sanjaya is living proof of that truth. Keshava — he of beautiful hair, or slayer of the demon Keshi — recalls both the sweet and the mighty aspects of the Lord.

There is a poignant contrast here. Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra both heard the same dialogue. Yet Sanjaya rejoices again and again, while Dhritarashtra — whose sons stand on the side of adharma — shows no inner change. This proves the point of 18.67 and 18.71: the effect of knowledge depends on the faith and receptivity of the listener.

This verse teaches the power of remembrance. In the devotional tradition smarana, remembrance, is one of the nine forms of devotion. When a teaching or experience that uplifts us is recalled again and again, it becomes a permanent part of life and an inexhaustible source of joy.

Context

In the previous verse Sanjaya explained that he heard this dialogue by Vyasa's grace. This verse says that he rejoices as he recalls it repeatedly. In the next verse (18.77) Sanjaya describes the wonder that arises as he remembers the Lord's marvellous cosmic form.

Life lesson

Recall again and again the thoughts and experiences that uplift you — remembrance makes them a lasting part of life. The joy of good company keeps growing through reflection even after the listening is over. The same wisdom can be joy to the faithful and empty to the faithless.

Key terms

Samsmritya samsmritya: Recalling again and again
Punya samvada: A purifying, holy dialogue
Keshava: He of beautiful hair; slayer of Keshi — Krishna
Muhur muhuh: Again and again