In Bhagavad Gita 4.2, Krishna explains that this yoga was known to the royal sages through succession, but over a long period of time it was lost.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तम्
इमं राजर्षयो विदुः
स कालेनेह महता
योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥ ४-२ ॥
evaṃ paramparāprāptam
imaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa
English transliteration evam paramparaapraaptam
imam raajarshayo viduh
sa kaaleneha mahataa
yogo nashtah parantapa ॥ 4.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus handed down in succession, the royal sages knew it. But through the long passage of time, O scorcher of foes, this yoga was lost in the world.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | thus |
| परम्पराप्राप्तम् paramparāprāptam | received through succession paramparā (succession) + prāptam (received) |
| इमम् imam | this |
| राजर्षयः rājarṣayaḥ | the royal sages rāja (king) + ṛṣayaḥ (sages) |
| विदुः viduḥ | knew |
| सः saḥ | that |
| कालेन kālena | by time |
| इह iha | here |
| महता mahatā | long |
| योगः yogaḥ | yoga |
| नष्टः naṣṭaḥ | lost |
| परन्तप parantapa | O scorcher of foes |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–vaṃ pa–ram–pa–rāp–rāp–tam– 8 syllables e-vam pa-ram-pa-raap-raap-tam-
- i–maṃ rā–jar–ṣa–yo vi–duḥ | 8 syllables i-mam raa-jar-sha-yo vi-duh
- sa kā–le–ne–ha ma–ha–tā 8 syllables sa kaa-le-ne-ha ma-ha-taa
- yo–go naṣ–ṭaḥ pa–ran–ta–pa || 4-2 8 syllables yo-go nash-tah pa-ran-ta-pa
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 4 Verse 2
Context
Krishna continues the history of the teaching begun in 4.1.
Meaning
Paramparā, the chain of teachers and students, preserved this yoga among the rājarṣis, kings who were also sages. But time wears down every tradition. Over long ages the living understanding was lost, though perhaps the words remained. A teaching can survive in form while its spirit disappears.
This verse is a reminder that spiritual knowledge must be renewed in each generation. Traditions decline when they become mechanical. Krishna is about to restore the lost yoga by teaching it afresh to Arjuna. Every sincere seeker participates in this renewal when they live the teaching, not merely repeat it.
In Practice
Choose one tradition or practice you follow out of habit. Ask what its living spirit is, and renew it by practising with understanding.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). 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.