Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 1 (4.1)
Reflective Prompt:
Imagine someone at school or work gives you very helpful advice. You think they are just another person like you. Then one day they say, "By the way, I am actually the Principal of this school," or "I am the CEO of this company." How would you react?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 1 (4.1)
श्रीभगवानुवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् । विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् | | ४-१ | |
śhrī bhagavān uvācha imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavānahamavyayam vivasvānmanave prāha manurikṣhvākave’bravīt
- श्री
(Sri)— श्री(the Blessed Lord said) - भगवान्
(Bhagavan)— भगवान(the Blessed Lord said) - उवाच
(uvacha)— बोले(the Blessed Lord said)
- इमम्
(imam)— यह अविनाशी योग(this imperishable Yoga) - विवस्वते
(Vivasvate)— विवस्वान को(to Vivasvan, the sun-god) - योगम्
(yogam)— यह अविनाशी योग(this imperishable Yoga) - ओतव
(proktavan)— मैंने सिखाया(I taught) - अहम्
(aham)— मैंने सिखाया(I taught) - अव्ययम्
(avyayam)— यह अविनाशी योग(this imperishable Yoga)
- विवस्वान्
(Vivasvan)— विवस्वान(Vivasvan taught it to Manu) - मनवे
(Manave)— मनु को(Vivasvan taught it to Manu) - रह
(praha)— विवस्वान ने मनु को सिखाया(Vivasvan taught it to Manu) - मनुः
(Manuh)— मनु(Manu spoke it to Ikshvaku) - इक्ष्वाकवे
(Ikshvakave)— इक्ष्वाकु को(Manu spoke it to Ikshvaku) - अब्रवीत्
(abravit)— मनु ने इक्ष्वाकु से कहा(Manu spoke it to Ikshvaku)
English: Krishna said: This everlasting philosophy I taught to Viwaswana, the founder of the Sun dynasty, Viwaswana gave it to Manu the lawgiver, and Manu to King Ikshwaku!
- Timeless Wisdom:: Real truth does not change with fashion or time; it remains eternal and universally applicable.
- Leadership Responsibility:: High-quality spiritual wisdom was first given to leaders to help them govern society righteously.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 4.1 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Krishna establishes that the wisdom of Gyan and Karma Yoga is not a recent invention, but a timeless cosmic law. It was first imparted to the Sun-god to guide leaders in managing their responsibilities with divine alignment.