Chapter 13Verse 11 of 34

Bhagavad Gita 13.11

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्। एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा॥

adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvaṁ tattva-jñānārtha-darśanam etaj jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato 'nyathā

Translation

Constancy in spiritual knowledge, perception of the end of knowledge of truth. This is declared to be knowledge; what is otherwise is ignorance.

The list closes with two final entries and a verdict. Adhyatma-jnana-nityatvam, constancy in the knowledge of the self. Not a flash of insight but a sustained orientation. Tattva-jnana-artha-darshanam, looking toward the goal of true-knowledge as one's actual destination. Then the verdict: all of this is jnana. Whatever is otherwise is ajnana. Read this slowly. Krishna has just defined knowledge as a long list of dispositions and practices, not as a body of information. By contrast, ignorance is anything else. Even highly informed states, if they lack humility, non-injury, equability, and ananya-bhakti, count as ignorance here. The chapter has rewritten the criterion.

Reflection

Audit a recent highly-informed conversation. Did any quality from the list show up?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Thirteen

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