Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 7, Verse 17
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः।।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः।।
teṣāṁ jñānī nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir viśiṣyate
priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ
also searched as "tesham jnani nityayukta ekabhaktir vishishyate"
Translation
Of these, the man of knowledge, who is ever with Me in Yoga and devoted to the One only, is the foremost; for I am very dear to the man of knowledge, and he is also dear to Me.
Vāṇi's rendering
Of these, the wise one — constant, loving one alone — stands first. He holds me dearest, and I hold him.
Word by word
| Sanskrit & transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तेषाम्teṣām | of those four who come to me |
| ज्ञानीjñānī | the one who knows, the wise |
| नित्य-युक्तःnitya-yuktaḥ | always joined, never away |
| एक-भक्तिःeka-bhaktiḥ | loving one alone (sandhi: nitya-yuktaḥ + eka-bhaktiḥ becomes nitya-yukta eka-bhaktiḥ) |
| विशिष्यतेviśiṣyate | stands first, is the finest |
| प्रियःpriyaḥ | dear, beloved |
| हिhi | for, indeed |
| ज्ञानिनःjñāninaḥ | to the wise one (sandhi: jñāninaḥ + atyartham becomes jñānino 'tyartham) |
| अत्यर्थम्atyartham | beyond measure, exceedingly |
| अहम्aham | I am |
| सःsaḥ | he |
| चca | and |
| ममmama | to me, mine |
| प्रियःpriyaḥ | dear |
Frequently asked
What does Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 17 mean?
Krishna has just named four who turn to him. Here he says the jñānī — the one who knows, who stays joined, who loves one alone — stands first among them. And the reason is not superior intellect. It is that this one comes without an errand, wanting Krishna and nothing else, and Krishna returns that love in kind.
What does 'tesham jnani nityayukta ekabhaktir vishishyate' mean?
Of those four, the wise one — constantly joined, devoted to the One — is finest. Nitya-yukta means never off duty, never away. Eka-bhakti means the love is not divided among many aims. Such a person is not asking Krishna for help with life. Krishna is the life.
If devotion is what matters, why does Krishna praise the wise one here?
Because in this verse knowing and loving are not two things. The jñānī is defined by eka-bhakti — love pointed at one. Knowledge here is not information about Krishna; it is the seeing that leaves nothing else worth wanting. What Krishna praises is love that has stopped shopping.
Does Krishna really love some devotees more than others?
He welcomes all four without a word of rebuke. But love answered is different from love merely offered. The one who wants only Krishna has room to receive him fully; the one who wants a result has hands already full. The difference is capacity, not favour.
Read every verse this way, held — inside Vāṇi.
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Commentary
Four kinds of people came to Krishna in the verse before — the broken, the curious, the ambitious, the wise. Here he ranks them, and then gives a reason nobody expects. Not that the wise one knows more. That he loves one thing only, and keeps loving it when nothing is being asked for. The other three arrive with an errand. He arrives with nothing in his hands. And Krishna answers the love rather than the learning — he holds him dearest, and the affection, for once, runs both ways. Notice what you carry when you come to him. Usually a request.