kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogins tvāṁ sadā parichintayan
keṣhu keṣhu cha bhāveṣhu chintyo ’si bhagavan mayā
katham — how;
vidyām aham — shall I know;
yogin — the Supreme Master of Yogmaya;
tvām — you;
sadā — always;
parichintayan — meditating;
keṣhu — in what;
keṣhu — in what;
cha — and;
bhāveṣhu — forms;
chintyaḥ asi — to be thought of;
bhagavan — the Supreme Divine Personality;
mayā — by me
In this verse, Arjuna, who is speaking to Krishna, is asking a very important question: he wants to know how he can truly think about and understand Krishna. He is curious about the different ways of meditating on God.
Arjuna understands that Krishna, his friend, is not just an ordinary person; Krishna is actually the Supreme Lord, the master of everything. However, Krishna is often hidden to most people because of something called 'yoga-maya,' which can be thought of as a special energy that both hides God from people's eyes and also helps some people realize His presence.
Arjuna is asking this question not just for himself, but for everyone. He cares about how others can also connect to God. Many people in the world, including those who might oppose or ignore God, find it hard to see Krishna for who He truly is. This is because they are focused on material things—like wealth, power, and pleasures—rather than on spiritual matters.
By calling Krishna 'yogin,' Arjuna highlights that Krishna is the master of this energy that makes it difficult for ordinary people to see Him. Arjuna knows that to understand Krishna on a deeper level, one must surrender and have love for Him. Those who do not love Krishna often think about worldly matters instead, making it harder for them to grasp His true nature.
Arjuna is acknowledging that many people are lost in their daily lives, thinking about their jobs, family, and struggles. Since they cannot grasp the concept of a spiritual Krishna, it may help if they start to see God in the things around them. For example, they might meditate on the beauty of nature, the warmth of love, or the values of kindness and compassion that can also reflect Krishna's presence.
Ultimately, Arjuna is encouraging everyone, especially those who are more focused on the physical aspects of life, to find ways to recognize and remember Krishna. By doing so, they can start to connect with Him and understand that His presence is everywhere, even if they cannot see Him in a traditional sense.