📿 Shloka Collection

Adhyatma-Gyana-Nityatvam

Gita 13.12 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13 — Kshetra Kshetragna Vibhaga Yoga
अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम् ।
एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा ॥
Adhyatma-gyana-nityatvam tattva-gyanartha-darshanam
Etaj gyanam iti proktam agyaanam yad ato'nyatha
अध्यात्मज्ञान
knowledge of the Self
नित्यत्वम्
constancy, remaining always engaged in it
तत्त्वज्ञान
knowledge of the truth
अर्थदर्शनम्
seeing its real purpose
एतत्
all this
ज्ञानम्
knowledge
इति
thus
प्रोक्तम्
has been declared
अज्ञानम्
ignorance
यत्
that which
अतः
from this
अन्यथा
is the opposite

The list of knowledge-qualities ends here. Staying constantly engaged in understanding the Self — not as a weekend hobby but as an ongoing practice. And seeing the real purpose behind all learning: to grasp things as they truly are.

Krishna closes the list by drawing a clear line. All of this is knowledge. Whatever runs contrary to it — vanity, attachment, pretense — that is ignorance. The definition is striking: knowledge is not facts stored in the head. It is how a person actually lives.

Verses 13.8 through 13.12 form the Gita's most detailed practical definition of knowledge. Over twenty qualities have been listed — not as intellectual concepts, but as lived dispositions.

In the Gita Press edition, this is the twelfth shloka. Starting from the next verse (13.13), Krishna begins describing the 'Gneya' — that which is ultimately worth knowing: the Supreme Brahman.

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