Bhagavad Gita 11.41
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति | अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ||
sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti | ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi ||
Translation
Whatever I have said in carelessness, taking you for a friend, calling O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend, not knowing this greatness of yours, through carelessness or through affection,
Reflection
What casual address of yours now reads differently after seeing whom you were addressing?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Eleven
Whatever I have said roughly, taking you for a friend, calling out O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend, not knowing this greatness of yours, through carelessness or through affection, the next verse will gather. Sakheti matva. Thinking you a friend. The first acknowledgement of error. Arjuna has called Krishna by familiar names without knowing the scale of what he was addressing. Prasabham, abruptly, with force. The casual register of friendship is being recalled with new awareness. Ajanata mahimanam, not knowing this greatness. The plea is honest. It does not deny the friendship. It locates the friendship inside a recognition that the friendship had not previously held. Pramadat pranayena va, from carelessness or from love. The two motives are named without flinching.