swayam evātmanātmānaṁ vettha tvaṁ puruṣhottama
bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśha deva-deva jagat-pate
swayam — yourself;
eva — indeed;
ātmanā — by yourself;
ātmānam — yourself;
vettha — know;
tvam — you;
puruṣha-uttama — the Supreme Personality;
bhūta-bhāvana — the Creator of all beings;
bhūta-īśha — the Lord of everything;
deva-deva — the God of gods;
jagat-pate — the Lord of the universe
In this verse, Krishna is speaking about Himself, saying that He is the only one who truly understands His nature and powers. Let's break this down into simpler terms:
First, Krishna identifies Himself as the highest being, the one who is above all other gods and creatures. He is called 'the Supreme Person,' which means He is the ultimate source of everything in the universe. Think of him as the most powerful figure at the top of a hierarchy, where every other being is below him.
Now, what does it mean that He knows Himself by His own powers? This part emphasizes that Krishna has full knowledge and awareness of who He is. While we may try to understand Him or others, Krishna does not need anyone else to explain Himself. He understands all the aspects of His being, His abilities, and His position in the universe perfectly.
Next, the interpretation explains that to really know Krishna, one must have a loving connection with Him, which is often developed through devotional practices, like prayer and devotion. Arjuna, the warrior to whom Krishna is talking, has this relationship with Him. This relationship is important because it allows people to understand and appreciate Krishna deeper than those who might just think of Him as a distant figure.
On the other hand, it warns against those who approach Krishna with disbelief or with a negative attitude, often referred to as demonic or atheistic. Such people find it hard, if not impossible, to grasp the essence of Krishna. It suggests that if someone doesn't truly understand Krishna, they should be careful when discussing Him or His teachings.
The interpretation stresses that the Bhagavad-Gita, which teaches Krishna's wisdom, should be learned in the way Arjuna learned it. This means we should approach it with respect, humility, and an open heart. It's not just a textbook; it’s a spiritual guide that reflects Krishna’s teachings, and understanding it requires sincerity.
In summary, this verse highlights Krishna’s unique position as the Supreme Being who understands Himself completely, and it emphasizes the importance of having a genuine relationship with Him to truly comprehend His teachings. It advises against trying to understand Him through a negative or skeptical lens, as that can lead to misunderstanding and misrepresenting His essence.