In Bhagavad Gita 18.72, Krishna asks Arjuna whether he has heard this with a concentrated mind and whether his delusion born of ignorance has been destroyed.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ
त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा
कच्चिदज्ञानसम्मोहः
प्रनष्टस्ते धनञ्जय ॥ १८-७२ ॥
kaccidetacchrutaṃ pārtha
tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā
kaccidajñānasammohaḥ
pranaṣṭaste dhanañjaya
English transliteration kachchidetachchhrutam paartha
tvayaikaagrena chetasaa
kachchidajnaanasammohah
pranashtaste dhananjaya ॥ 18.72 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Have you heard this, O Partha, with a concentrated mind? Has your delusion born of ignorance been destroyed, O Dhananjaya?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कच्चित् kaccit | have |
| एतत् etat | this |
| श्रुतम् śrutam | heard |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| त्वया tvayā | by you |
| एकाग्रेण ekāgreṇa | concentrated |
| चेतसा cetasā | with a mind |
| कच्चित् kaccit | has |
| अज्ञानसम्मोहः ajñānasammohaḥ | delusion born of ignorance ajñāna (ignorance) + sammohaḥ (delusion) |
| प्रनष्टः pranaṣṭaḥ | destroyed |
| ते te | your |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
Word-wise Chanting
- kac–ci–de–tac–chru–taṃ pār–tha 8 syllables kach-chi-de-tach-chhru-tam paar-tha
- tva–yai–kāg–re–ṇa ce–ta–sā | 8 syllables tva-yai-kaag-re-na che-ta-saa
- kac–ci–da–jñā–na–sam–mo–haḥ 8 syllables kach-chi-da-jnaa-na-sam-mo-hah
- pra–naṣ–ṭas–te dha–nañ–ja–ya || 18-72 8 syllables pra-nash-tas-te dha-nan-ja-ya
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 72
Context
Krishna asks about the result of the teaching (18.72).
Meaning
Like a caring teacher at the end of a lesson, Krishna asks two questions: have you heard this with an ekāgra, one-pointed mind? And has your ajñāna-sammoha, the confusion born of ignorance, been destroyed?
The purpose of all teaching is transformation. Krishna checks not whether Arjuna remembers the words, but whether his confusion is gone.
In Practice
Ask yourself honestly: has my study of the Gita reduced my confusion? Where is it still present?
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.