In Bhagavad Gita 18.63, Krishna says he has given Arjuna knowledge more secret than all secrets; reflecting on it fully, Arjuna should do as he wishes.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं
गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण
यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ १८-६३ ॥
iti te jñānamākhyātaṃ
guhyādguhyataraṃ mayā
vimṛśyaitadaśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru
English transliteration iti te jnaanamaakhyaatam
guhyaadguhyataram mayaa
vimrishyaitadasheshena
yathechchhasi tathaa kuru ॥ 18.63 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus I have declared to you this knowledge, more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully, and then do as you wish.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इति iti | thus |
| ते te | to you |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| आख्यातम् ākhyātam | declared |
| गुह्यात् guhyāt | than all secrets |
| गुह्यतरम् guhyataram | more secret |
| मया mayā | by Me |
| विमृश्य vimṛśya | reflecting on |
| एतत् etat | this |
| अशेषेण aśeṣeṇa | fully |
| यथा yathā | as |
| इच्छसि icchasi | you wish |
| तथा tathā | so |
| कुरु kuru | do |
Word-wise Chanting
- i–ti te jñā–na–mākh–yā–taṃ 8 syllables i-ti te jnaa-na-maakh-yaa-tam
- guh–yād–guh–ya–ta–raṃ ma–yā | 8 syllables guh-yaad-guh-ya-ta-ram ma-yaa
- vi–mṛś–yai–ta–da–śe–ṣe–ṇa 8 syllables vi-mrish-yai-ta-da-she-she-na
- ya–thec–cha–si ta–thā ku–ru || 18-63 8 syllables ya-thech-chha-si ta-thaa ku-ru
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 63
Context
Krishna gives Arjuna the freedom to decide (18.63).
Meaning
After the whole teaching, Krishna does not command. He asks Arjuna to vimṛśya, reflect deeply, aśeṣeṇa, on everything, and then to act yathecchasi, as he chooses. The Divine respects human freedom.
True teaching does not force. It offers wisdom and trusts the student to choose. Krishna treats Arjuna as a responsible adult.
In Practice
Reflect deeply on what you have learned from the Gita, and choose freely how to live it.
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.