In Bhagavad Gita 13.5, Krishna says this truth has been sung by sages in many ways, in various hymns, and in the reasoned and conclusive aphorisms about Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं
छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक्
ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव
हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः ॥ १३-५ ॥
ṛṣibhirbahudhā gītaṃ
chandobhirvividhaiḥ pṛthak
brahmasūtrapadaiścaiva
hetumadbhirviniścitaiḥ
English transliteration rishibhirbahudhaa geetam
chhandobhirvividhaih prithak
brahmasootrapadaishchaiva
hetumadbhirvinishchitaih ॥ 13.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
This has been sung by the sages in many ways, in various distinct hymns, and also in the well-reasoned and conclusive aphorisms concerning Brahman.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ऋषिभिः ṛṣibhiḥ | by the sages |
| बहुधा bahudhā | in many ways |
| गीतम् gītam | sung |
| छन्दोभिः chandobhiḥ | in hymns |
| विविधैः vividhaiḥ | various |
| पृथक् pṛthak | distinct |
| ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैः brahmasūtrapadaiḥ | in the aphorisms concerning Brahman brahma (Brahman) + sūtra (aphorisms) + padaiḥ (words) |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| हेतुमद्भिः hetumadbhiḥ | well-reasoned |
| विनिश्चितैः viniścitaiḥ | conclusive |
Word-wise Chanting
- ṛ–ṣi–bhir–ba–hu–dhā gī–taṃ 8 syllables ri-shi-bhir-ba-hu-dhaa gee-tam
- chan–do–bhir–vi–vi–dhaiḥ pṛ–thak | 8 syllables chhan-do-bhir-vi-vi-dhaih pri-thak
- brah–ma–sūt–ra–pa–daiś–cai–va 8 syllables brah-ma-soot-ra-pa-daish-chai-va
- he–tu–mad–bhir–vi–niś–ci–taiḥ || 13-5 8 syllables he-tu-mad-bhir-vi-nish-chi-taih
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 5
Context
Krishna grounds his teaching in tradition.
Meaning
The knowledge Krishna is about to give is not new. The ṛṣis have sung it in the Vedic hymns, and it has been set out with sound reasoning in the brahma-sūtra-padas, the aphoristic statements about Brahman, which commentators connect with the Upaniṣads and the Brahma Sūtras.
Spiritual truth is confirmed by many voices across time. The Gita presents itself as part of a living tradition.
In Practice
Read a short passage from another scripture or sage today and notice how it echoes what you learn in the Gita.
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.