In Bhagavad Gita 2.29, Krishna describes the Self as a wonder: some see it, speak of it or hear of it as a marvel, yet even after hearing, no one truly knows it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन-
माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ॥ २-२९ ॥
āścaryavatpaśyati kaścidena-
māścaryavadvadati tathaiva cānyaḥ
āścaryavaccainamanyaḥ śṛṇoti
śrutvāpyenaṃ veda na caiva kaścit
English transliteration aashcharyavatpashyati kashchidena-
maashcharyavadvadati tathaiva chaanyah
aashcharyavachchainamanyah shrinoti
shrutvaapyenam veda na chaiva kashchit ॥ 2.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Someone sees this Self as a wonder; another speaks of it as a wonder; another hears of it as a wonder; and even after hearing about it, no one truly understands it.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आश्चर्यवत् āścaryavat | as a wonder |
| पश्यति paśyati | sees |
| कश्चित् kaścit | someone |
| एनम् enam | this |
| आश्चर्यवत् āścaryavat | as a wonder |
| वदति vadati | speaks |
| तथा tathā | likewise |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| अन्यः anyaḥ | another |
| आश्चर्यवत् āścaryavat | as a wonder |
| च ca | and |
| एनम् enam | this |
| अन्यः anyaḥ | another |
| शृणोति śṛṇoti | hears |
| श्रुत्वा śrutvā | having heard |
| अपि api | even |
| एनम् enam | this |
| वेद veda | knows |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| कश्चित् kaścit | anyone |
Word-wise Chanting
- āś–car–ya–vat–paś–ya–ti kaś–ci–de–na– 11 syllables aash-char-ya-vat-pash-ya-ti kash-chi-de-na-
- māś–car–ya–vad–va–da–ti ta–thai–va cān–yaḥ | 12 syllables maash-char-ya-vad-va-da-ti ta-thai-va chaan-yah
- āś–car–ya–vac–cai–na–man–yaḥ śṛ–ṇo–ti 11 syllables aash-char-ya-vach-chai-na-man-yah shri-no-ti
- śrut–vāp–ye–naṃ ve–da na cai–va kaś–cit || 2-29 11 syllables shrut-vaap-ye-nam ve-da na chai-va kash-chit
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 2 Verse 29
Context
After explaining the Self in many ways (2.12–2.28), Krishna acknowledges its mystery.
Meaning
The Self is āścarya, a marvel. It is wondrous to see, wondrous to describe, wondrous to hear about. Yet hearing alone is not enough; most who hear about it do not truly know it. This is an honest recognition that spiritual truth cannot be fully contained in words.
The verse protects us from two mistakes: thinking the Self is easy to grasp, and thinking it cannot be known at all. It is known by a direct, wonder-filled recognition that transforms the one who knows. Wonder itself is a doorway: when we stop taking our own awareness for granted, it begins to reveal itself.
In Practice
Spend a moment today simply wondering at the fact that you are aware. Let it astonish you, without trying to explain it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.