Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 17 (7.17)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 17 (7.17)
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते । प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः | | ७-१७ | |
teṣhāṁ jñānī nityayukta ekabhaktirviśhiṣhyate priyo hi jñānino’tyarthamahaṁ sa cha mama priyaḥ
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- तेषाम्
(tesham)— उनमें से(of them) - ज्ञानी
(jnani)— ज्ञानी(the wise one) - नित्ययुक्तः
(nitya-yuktah)— निरंतर मुझमें स्थित(constantly united/steadfast) - एकभक्तिः
(eka-bhaktih)— अनन्य भक्ति वाला(single-minded in devotion) - विशिष्यते
(vishishyate)— अति श्रेष्ठ है(excels/is distinguished)
Line 2:
- प्रियः
(priyah)— प्रिय(dear) - हि
(hi)— क्योंकि(indeed) - ज्ञानिनः
(jnaninah)— ज्ञानी पुरुष को(to the wise person) - अत्यर्थम्
(atyartham)— अत्यधिक(exceedingly) - अहम्
(aham)— मैं(I) - सः
(sah)— वह(he) - च
(cha)— और(and) - मम
(mama)— मुझे(to Me) - प्रियः
(priyah)— प्रिय(is dear)
English: Of all of these, he who has gained wisdom, who meditates on Me without ceasing, devoting himself only to Me, he is the best; for by wise people man I am exceedingly beloved and wise people man, too, is beloved by Me.
Learnings from Shloka 17:
- The highest devotion:: Love without demand or condition is the ultimate state of worship.
- Constant alignment:: The wise person lives in continuous awareness of the Divine presence.
- Reciprocity of love:: The relationship between the wise seeker and the Divine is one of mutual, deep affection.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 7.17 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
While all four types of seekers are good, the wise devotee (jnani) is the best because their devotion is unconditional. They do not want anything from the Divine; they only want the Divine itself. They have realized that they and the Divine are one in essence.