Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 4.4 अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः
श्लोक 4.4
अर्जुन उवाच ।
अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः ।
कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥
arjuna uvāca |
aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ |
kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा: आपका जन्म तो अभी हाल का है और सूर्यदेव विवस्वान का जन्म बहुत पहले हुआ था। तो मैं कैसे समझूँ कि आपने ही आरम्भ में यह योग कहा था?
Meaning in English
Arjuna said: Your birth was recent, and the birth of Vivasvan was long ago. How am I to understand that You taught it in the beginning?
Bhagavad Gita 4.4 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अपरम् | aparam | later |
| भवतः | bhavataḥ | your |
| जन्म | janma | birth |
| परम् | param | earlier |
| जन्म | janma | birth |
| विवस्वतः | vivasvataḥ | of Vivasvan |
| कथम् | katham | how |
| एतत् | etat | this |
| विजानीयाम् | vijānīyām | am I to understand |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| आदौ | ādau | in the beginning |
| प्रोक्तवान् | proktavān | taught |
| इति | iti | that |
Explanation
Arjuna raises a natural objection. Krishna was born recently, in Arjuna's own time, while Vivasvan the sun was born long ago, at the beginning. How then is he to understand Krishna's claim that he taught this yoga to Vivasvan at the very start?
Arjuna still sees Krishna as a human friend and cousin, so the claim in 4.1 seems impossible to him. His honest question opens one of the most important passages of the Gita, the teaching on avatara in verses 5 to 9. Shankara remarks that Arjuna asks so that the ignorant may not think Krishna is merely a man. Commentators value the verse as a model of sincere inquiry: Arjuna does not simply accept, he asks.
भावार्थ
अर्जुन बोले — आपका जन्म तो अभी हाल का है और सूर्यदेव विवस्वान का जन्म बहुत पहले का है। फिर मैं यह कैसे समझूँ कि आपने ही आरम्भ में उन्हें यह योग बताया था?
Living it today
When something does not add up, ask openly and respectfully. Honest questions often open the way to deeper understanding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 4.4?
Arjuna raises a natural objection. Krishna was born recently, in Arjuna's own time, while Vivasvan the sun was born long ago, at the beginning. How then is he to understand Krishna's claim that he taught this yoga to Vivasvan at the very start?
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.4?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 4.4 in daily life?
When something does not add up, ask openly and respectfully. Honest questions often open the way to deeper understanding.
Reflected on verse 4.4?
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