Bhagavad Gita 4.3
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः । भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥
sa evāyaṃ mayā te 'dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ | bhakto 'si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hy etad uttamam ||
Translation
That same ancient yoga has now been declared to you by me, for you are my devotee and my friend; and this is the highest mystery.
Reflection
Who in your life are you close enough to hear, and far enough to respect?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Four
Sa eva ayaṃ, mayā te adya proktaḥ. That same, this, now, by me to you, declared. The pronouns stack to make one point: the old teaching is in this room. Bhakto 'si me sakhā ca, you are my devotee and friend. The pairing is unusual. Devotion alone would give Arjuna distance. Friendship alone would give him equality. Together they make the only position from which the highest mystery can be received: close enough to hear, far enough to respect. Shankara: the rahasyam uttamam, highest secret, is not hidden by mystification but by the difficulty of finding a hearer ready to be both devoted and trusted.