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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 15 | Verse 19

Chapter 15, Verse 19

The Yoga of the Supreme Person

Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata.

Verse

यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम्।स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत।।15.19।।


yo mām evam asammūḍho jānāti puruṣhottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati māṁ sarva-bhāvena bhārata

Meaning of each word

yaḥ — who;
mām — me;
evam — thus;
asammūḍhaḥ — without a doubt;
jānāti — know;
puruṣha-uttamam — the Supreme Divine Personality;
saḥ — they;
sarva-vit — those with complete knowledge;
bhajati — worship;
mām — me;
sarva-bhāvena — with one’s whole being;
bhārata — Arjun, the son of Bharat

Interpretation

In this verse from the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna is telling Arjun, his close friend and disciple, an important truth about understanding him and the nature of the world.

The first part of the verse states that anyone who recognizes Krishna as the Supreme Person—meaning the highest and ultimate divine presence—does so without any doubt. This is key because doubt can lead people away from a true understanding. For instance, if someone thinks Krishna is just an ordinary person or does not believe in his divine status, they are not seeing the whole picture.

The verse suggests that when someone truly understands Krishna in this way, they have a deep knowledge of everything. This means they grasp more than just surface-level facts; they understand the deeper truths of life, the nature of existence, and their own purpose. It's like a student who knows merely the basics of a subject versus an expert who understands the intricate details and connections within that subject.

Furthermore, those individuals who recognize Krishna surely and without doubt will naturally engage in what is called 'full devotional service.' This means dedicating themselves fully to serving and loving Krishna. It's not just about performing rituals or saying prayers; it involves a heartfelt commitment to connect with the divine in every action and thought—similar to how someone would invest all their effort into a significant relationship. They make God a part of their daily life, worshipping him with sincerity and passion.

Lord Krishna also points out that there are many philosophical discussions about what the absolute truth is, but those who truly understand his divine nature do not get lost in endless debates or speculations. Instead, they focus their energies on cultivating a genuine connection with him through devotion.

In contrast, those who only have partial understanding or some confusion about this concept may think that every living being is the same as the Supreme Truth. However, Krishna emphasizes that recognizing his unique, supreme position leads one to deeper knowledge and understanding—the kind that guides a person towards a fulfilling spiritual life.

In essence, this verse is about the importance of recognizing the divine nature of Krishna, fostering a deep relationship with him, and engaging in a meaningful, devoted life. Such understanding brings clarity and helps individuals navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and purpose.

Other Verses of Chapter 15
Verse 1
The Blessed Lord said: There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.
Verse 2
The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to the fruitive actions of human society.
Verse 3
Its form is not perceived here as such, nor its end, origin, foundation, or resting place; having cut asunder this firmly rooted peepul tree with the strong axe of non-attachment.
Verse 4
Then, that goal should be sought for, to which, having gone, none returns again. I seek refuge in that Primeval Purusha, from whence streamed forth the ancient activity or energy.
Verse 5
One who is free from illusion, false prestige, and false association, who understands the eternal, who is done with material lust and is freed from the duality of happiness and distress, and who knows how to surrender unto the Supreme Person, attains to that eternal kingdom.
Verse 6
That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world.
Verse 7
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.
Verse 8
The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.
Verse 9
The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, tongue, and nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects.
Verse 10
The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.
Verse 11
The endeavoring transcendentalist, who is situated in self-realization, can see all this clearly. But those who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try to.
Verse 12
The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.
Verse 13
I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables.
Verse 14
I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff.
Verse 15
I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.
Verse 16
There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every entity is called infallible.
Verse 17
Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Lord Himself, who has entered into these worlds and is maintaining them.
Verse 18
Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person.
Verse 20
This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection.
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