In Bhagavad Gita 13.25, Krishna says some see the Self in the self by meditation, others by the yoga of knowledge, and others by the yoga of action.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति
केचिदात्मानमात्मना
अन्ये साङ्ख्येन योगेन
कर्मयोगेन चापरे ॥ १३-२५ ॥
dhyānenātmani paśyanti
kecidātmānamātmanā
anye sāṅkhyena yogena
karmayogena cāpare
English transliteration dhyaanenaatmani pashyanti
kechidaatmaanamaatmanaa
anye saankhyena yogena
karmayogena chaapare ॥ 13.25 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Some, through meditation, perceive the Self in the self by the self. Others perceive it through the yoga of knowledge, and still others through the yoga of action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ध्यानेन dhyānena | through meditation |
| आत्मनि ātmani | in the self |
| पश्यन्ति paśyanti | perceive |
| केचित् kecit | some |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | the Self |
| आत्मना ātmanā | by the self |
| अन्ये anye | others |
| साङ्ख्येन sāṅkhyena | of knowledge |
| योगेन yogena | by the yoga |
| कर्मयोगेन karmayogena | by the yoga of action karma (action) + yogena (yoga) |
| च ca | and |
| अपरे apare | still others |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhyā–ne–nāt–ma–ni paś–yan–ti 8 syllables dhyaa-ne-naat-ma-ni pash-yan-ti
- ke–ci–dāt–mā–na–māt–ma–nā | 8 syllables ke-chi-daat-maa-na-maat-ma-naa
- an–ye sāṅ–khye–na yo–ge–na 8 syllables an-ye saan-khye-na yo-ge-na
- kar–ma–yo–ge–na cā–pa–re || 13-25 8 syllables kar-ma-yo-ge-na chaa-pa-re
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 13 Verse 25
Context
Krishna describes the different paths to realisation (13.25–13.26).
Meaning
There are various ways to see the Self. Some use dhyāna, meditation, perceiving the Self within themselves by their own purified mind. Others follow sāṅkhya-yoga, the path of discriminating knowledge. Others follow karma-yoga, selfless action.
The Gita respects different temperaments. The contemplative, the philosophical and the active can all reach the same realisation.
In Practice
Identify which path suits your temperament best, meditation, study or service, and give it more time this week.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.