Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 3

Chapter 7 – Jnana Vijnana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये ।
यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥

Transliteration

manuṣyāṇāṃ sahasreṣu kaścidyatati siddhaye .
yatatāmapi siddhānāṃ kaścinmāṃ vetti tattvataḥ ॥

Meaning

Among thousands of human beings, scarcely one strives for perfection; and among those who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows Me in truth.

Word meanings

मनुष्याणाम् – of human beings
सहस्रेषु – among thousands
कश्चित् – someone, scarcely one
यतति – strives
सिद्धये – for perfection
यतताम् – of those who strive
अपि – even
सिद्धानाम् – of the accomplished
माम् – Me
वेत्ति – knows
तत्त्वतः – in truth, in reality

Anvaya (word order)

मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चित् सिद्धये यतति; यतताम् अपि सिद्धानां कश्चित् मां तत्त्वतः वेत्ति ।

Explanation

Before giving the promised knowledge, Krishna stresses its rarity, so that Arjuna may appreciate its worth and listen with full attention. He presents a picture in stages.

The first stage: manushyanam sahasreshu kashchid yatati siddhaye — among thousands of people, scarcely one strives for perfection, that is, for Self-realisation or attainment of the Divine. Most people spend their lives on food, wealth, family, reputation and entertainment. Very few strive toward life's highest goal. Human birth is itself rare, and spiritual inquiry within it rarer still.

The second stage: yatatam api siddhanam kashchin mam vetti tattvatah — even among those who strive, scarcely one knows Me in truth. Shankara says that siddha here refers to striving seekers who exert themselves for liberation; they may consider themselves accomplished, yet among them one who knows the Lord as He truly is is rare. Many seekers stop midway — at some power, some experience, some position.

The verse is meant not to discourage but to inspire. Krishna is telling Arjuna that the knowledge he is about to receive is extremely rare and precious. Whoever gets the opportunity to gain it is fortunate and should not take it lightly.

Context

In 7.2 Krishna promised knowledge with realisation; here he speaks of its rarity. From the next verse (7.4) he begins to describe His lower nature — the eight elements.

Life lesson

Spiritual curiosity is itself a great blessing. If you feel a desire to know the truth, do not consider it ordinary. Rather than following the crowd, walk that rare path with determination.

Key terms

Siddhi: spiritual perfection, realisation
Tattvatah: in truth, as it really is
Yatatam: of those who strive