evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣhayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣhṭaḥ parantapa
evam — thus;
paramparā — in a continuous tradition;
prāptam — received;
imam — this (science);
rāja-ṛiṣhayaḥ — the saintly kings;
viduḥ — understood;
saḥ — that;
kālena — with the long passage of time;
iha — in this world;
mahatā — great;
yogaḥ — the science of Yog;
naṣhṭaḥ — lost;
parantapa — Arjun, the scorcher of foes
This verse talks about an important teaching known as the Bhagavad Gita, which is compared to a very special knowledge passed down through generations. This knowledge wasn't just for any random person; it was specifically meant for honorable and wise kings, who were thought to be capable of understanding and using this knowledge to lead and protect their people wisely.
Over time, however, something went wrong. The original chain of teachers—the people who were meant to pass down this knowledge—became broken. This means that the teachings were no longer shared accurately or faithfully. Because of this breakdown, the true essence of the Gita seemed to be lost. It was as if the important messages got mixed up or misinterpreted, much like a game of broken telephone where the original message gets distorted.
In this context, the verse asserts that the teachings of the Gita should not be altered by those who might try to use them for selfish reasons. Some people might take the teachings but twist them to serve their own interests without honoring the original intention. This can create confusion and even lead to negative outcomes, as those who do not believe in God or follow the true teachings may challenge the original meanings and use the knowledge for their gain.
The speaker (Krishna) points out that this distortion is like letting bad influences turn pure teachings into something less valuable. Today, there are many versions of the Bhagavad Gita available, especially in English. However, many of these do not align with the original teachings as passed down through the proper line of teachers. This situation arises because a lot of modern interpretations overlook the divine aspect of these teachings.
In simple terms, while the Bhagavad Gita is written in a way that can help people understand life, if someone treats it just like any other book of philosophy without appreciating its deeper meaning and connection to God, then its purpose is lost. Instead of providing wisdom, it might just become a topic of discussion without real impact. Thus, this verse emphasizes the importance of getting back to the original teachings as they were meant to be understood, which can be very beneficial for everyone.