evam idānīṃ tvam mām upadiśya pārthivaḥ . śrutvā caivāva gamyāswa na hi naḥ śreyo aviduḥ .
“Thus, O King, now you must impart your knowledge to Me; having heard and understood it, we will not fare well if we are ignorant.”
Structure
evam idānīṃ tvam mām upadiśya pārthivaḥ śrutvā ca eva avagamyasva na hi naḥ śreyoḥ aviduḥ
tvam (you) pārthivaḥ (O king) evam (in this way) idānīṃ (now) mām (Me) upadiśya (instruct) śrutvā (having heard) ca (and) eva (indeed) avagamyasva (try to understand) na (not) hi (certainly) aviduḥ (ignorant ones) naḥ (for us) śreyoḥ (welfare) na (not) hi (indeed)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| evam | evam | indeclinable | — | thus, in this way |
| idānīṃ | idānīṃ | indeclinable | — | now, at present |
| tvam | tvam | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| mām | mām | pronoun | accusative · singular | me |
| upadiśya | upadiśya | verb | √diś | having instructed |
| pārthivaḥ | pārthivaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | O King |
| śrutvā | śrutvā | indeclinable | — | having heard |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| avagamyasva | avagamyasva | verb | √gam | understand, comprehend |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | for, indeed |
| naḥ | naḥ | pronoun | dative · plural | to us |
| śreyoḥ | śreyoḥ | noun | genitive · singular · neuter | welfare, good |
| aviduḥ | aviduḥ | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | those who do not know |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, Śaṅkarācārya explains that the knowledge imparted by the king is not ordinary knowledge, but rather the knowledge of the ultimate reality, Brahman. Śaṅkarācārya writes in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā that 'the king, having been instructed by the Lord, should understand the nature of the Self' (BG 3.9). This understanding is crucial, as it leads to the realization of the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). Śaṅkarācārya cites the verse 'tat tvam asi' (You are That) from the Chāndogya Upaniṣad to support this non-dual reading, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to realize the unity of the individual self with the cosmic reality. This verse, therefore, points to the brahman-ātman identity, which is the central theme of Advaita Vedānta.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as an expression of the devotee's humility and willingness to learn from the Lord. The king's request to be imparted knowledge by the Lord signifies the jīva's (individual self) dependence on Īśvara (the Lord) for spiritual guidance. Rāmānujācārya writes that 'the Lord, being the inner guide of all beings, imparts knowledge to the devotee, who, in turn, must surrender to the Lord's will' (BG 3.9). This verse highlights the devotional relationship between the jīva and Īśvara, where the jīva seeks knowledge and guidance from the Lord, and the Lord, in turn, provides it. This relationship is central to the Vaiṣṇava tradition, which emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) in achieving spiritual liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as a call to action, emphasizing the importance of selfless work and the pursuit of knowledge. He writes that 'the verse emphasizes the need for the individual to seek knowledge and to apply it in practical life, for the benefit of all' (Complete Works, Vol. 4). Vivekānanda connects this verse to the concept of 'naiṣkarmya' (selfless action), where the individual performs actions without attachment to their fruits, but rather as a means of self-purification and service to others. This verse, therefore, has a universal and practical application, encouraging individuals to seek knowledge, apply it in their lives, and work selflessly for the benefit of all, which is a central theme in Neo-Vedānta thought.