In Bhagavad Gita 4.3, Krishna tells Arjuna that he is teaching him this same ancient yoga because Arjuna is his devotee and friend; it is the supreme secret.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य
योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः
भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति
रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥ ४-३ ॥
sa evāyaṃ mayā te’dya
yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ
bhakto’si me sakhā ceti
rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam
English transliteration sa evaayam mayaa te’dya
yogah proktah puraatanah
bhakto’si me sakhaa cheti
rahasyam hyetaduttamam ॥ 4.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
That same ancient yoga I have taught to you today, for you are My devotee and My friend. This is indeed the supreme secret.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सः saḥ | that |
| एव eva | same |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| मया mayā | by Me |
| ते te | to you |
| अद्य adya | today |
| योगः yogaḥ | yoga |
| प्रोक्तः proktaḥ | taught |
| पुरातनः purātanaḥ | ancient |
| भक्तः bhaktaḥ | devotee |
| असि asi | you are |
| मे me | My |
| सखा sakhā | friend |
| च ca | and |
| इति iti | therefore |
| रहस्यम् rahasyam | secret |
| हि hi | indeed |
| एतत् etat | this |
| उत्तमम् uttamam | supreme |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa e–vā–yaṃ ma–yā te–‘dya 8 syllables sa e-vaa-yam ma-yaa te-‘dya
- yo–gaḥ prok–taḥ pu–rā–ta–naḥ | 8 syllables yo-gah prok-tah pu-raa-ta-nah
- bhak–to–‘si me sa–khā ce–ti 8 syllables bhak-to-‘si me sa-khaa che-ti
- ra–has–yaṃ hye–ta–dut–ta–mam || 4-3 8 syllables ra-has-yam hye-ta-dut-ta-mam
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 3
Context
Krishna explains why he is renewing the lost yoga through Arjuna (following 4.2).
Meaning
The teaching is given to Arjuna for two reasons: he is a bhakta, a devotee, and a sakhā, a friend. Devotion and friendship open the heart to receive truth. The yoga is called rahasya, a secret, not because it is hidden deliberately, but because it reveals itself only to those whose hearts are open.
This verse shows that the Gita is a teaching of love as much as of knowledge. The relationship between teacher and student, between the Divine and the human, is the vessel in which wisdom is carried. We receive deep truths when we approach with love and trust.
In Practice
Approach your spiritual study today with an attitude of friendship and devotion, not only of analysis. Notice whether it opens you more deeply.
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.