In Bhagavad Gita 18.55, Krishna says through devotion one knows him in truth, what and who he is; knowing him in truth, one enters into him immediately.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
भक्त्या मामभिजानाति
यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः
ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा
विशते तदनन्तरम् ॥ १८-५५ ॥
bhaktyā māmabhijānāti
yāvānyaścāsmi tattvataḥ
tato māṃ tattvato jñātvā
viśate tadanantaram
English transliteration bhaktyaa maamabhijaanaati
yaavaanyashchaasmi tattvatah
tato maam tattvato jnaatvaa
vishate tadanantaram ॥ 18.55 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Through devotion one comes to know Me in truth, what and who I am. Then, having known Me in truth, one enters into Me immediately.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| भक्त्या bhaktyā | through devotion |
| माम् mām | Me |
| अभिजानाति abhijānāti | comes to know |
| यावान् yāvān | what |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| तत्त्वतः tattvataḥ | in truth |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| माम् mām | Me |
| तत्त्वतः tattvataḥ | in truth |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | having known |
| विशते viśate | enters |
| तदनन्तरम् tadanantaram | immediately |
Word-wise Chanting
- bhak–tyā mā–ma–bhi–jā–nā–ti 8 syllables bhak-tyaa maa-ma-bhi-jaa-naa-ti
- yā–vān–yaś–cās–mi tat–tva–taḥ | 8 syllables yaa-vaan-yash-chaas-mi tat-tva-tah
- ta–to māṃ tat–tva–to jñāt–vā 8 syllables ta-to maam tat-tva-to jnaat-vaa
- vi–śa–te ta–da–nan–ta–ram || 18-55 8 syllables vi-sha-te ta-da-nan-ta-ram
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 18 Verse 55
Context
Krishna describes the state of realisation (18.54–18.55).
Meaning
Parā bhakti leads to knowing the Divine tattvataḥ, in its true nature: its extent and its essence. Knowing it truly, the devotee viśate, enters into it, at once.
Devotion, knowledge and union form a single movement: love reveals, revelation unites.
In Practice
Let your devotion today be a way of knowing the Divine more deeply.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.