In Bhagavad Gita 4.34, Krishna tells Arjuna to learn the truth by humble reverence, sincere questioning and service, for the wise who have seen the truth will teach it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन
परिप्रश्नेन सेवया
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं
ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ ४-३४ ॥
tadviddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ
jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ
English transliteration tadviddhi pranipaatena
pariprashnena sevayaa
upadekshyanti te jnaanam
jnaaninastattvadarshinah ॥ 4.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Learn this by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will instruct you in that knowledge.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तत् tat | that |
| विद्धि viddhi | learn |
| प्रणिपातेन praṇipātena | by humble reverence |
| परिप्रश्नेन paripraśnena | by sincere inquiry pari (fully) + praśnena (by questioning) |
| सेवया sevayā | by service |
| उपदेक्ष्यन्ति upadekṣyanti | will instruct |
| ते te | you |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| ज्ञानिनः jñāninaḥ | the wise |
| तत्त्वदर्शिनः tattvadarśinaḥ | who have seen the truth tattva (truth) + darśinaḥ (seers) |
Word-wise Chanting
- tad–vid–dhi pra–ṇi–pā–te–na 8 syllables tad-vid-dhi pra-ni-paa-te-na
- pa–rip–raś–ne–na se–va–yā | 8 syllables pa-rip-rash-ne-na se-va-yaa
- u–pa–dekṣ–yan–ti te jñā–naṃ 8 syllables u-pa-deksh-yan-ti te jnaa-nam
- jñā–ni–nas–tat–tva–dar–śi–naḥ || 4-34 8 syllables jnaa-ni-nas-tat-tva-dar-shi-nah
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 34
Context
Having praised knowledge (4.33), Krishna explains how it is gained.
Meaning
Three attitudes open the way to knowledge: praṇipāta, humble reverence, bowing down the ego; paripraśna, sincere, repeated questioning to understand fully; and sevā, service to the teacher. The teachers are jñānins and tattva-darśins: those who know and have directly seen the truth, not merely studied it.
This verse is the classic description of the relationship between student and teacher in India. Knowledge is not bought or downloaded; it is received in a relationship of humility, inquiry and service. These attitudes still open doors today, with human teachers and with life itself.
In Practice
Approach someone wiser than you this week with humility and a sincere question, and offer some service in return for their guidance.
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.