In Bhagavad Gita 4.39, Krishna says that one with faith, devoted to it and with senses controlled, gains knowledge, and having gained it, soon attains supreme peace.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं
तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिम्
अचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥ ४-३९ ॥
śraddhāvā~llabhate jñānaṃ
tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ
jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntim
acireṇādhigacchati
English transliteration shraddhaavaallabhate jnaanam
tatparah samyatendriyah
jnaanam labdhvaa paraam shaantim
achirenaadhigachchhati ॥ 4.39 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who has faith, who is devoted to it and has mastered the senses, gains knowledge. Having gained knowledge, one quickly attains supreme peace.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| श्रद्धावान् śraddhāvān | one with faith |
| लभते labhate | gains |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| तत्परः tatparaḥ | devoted to it |
| संयतेन्द्रियः saṃyatendriyaḥ | with senses controlled saṃyata (controlled) + indriyaḥ (senses) |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| लब्ध्वा labdhvā | having gained |
| पराम् parām | supreme |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| अचिरेण acireṇa | soon |
| अधिगच्छति adhigacchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- śrad–dhā–vā~–lla–bha–te jñā–naṃ 8 syllables shrad-dhaa-vaa-lla-bha-te jnaa-nam
- tat–pa–raḥ saṃ–ya–ten–dri–yaḥ | 8 syllables tat-pa-rah sam-ya-ten-dri-yah
- jñā–naṃ lab–dhvā pa–rāṃ śān–tim– 8 syllables jnaa-nam lab-dhvaa pa-raam shaan-tim-
- a–ci–re–ṇā–dhi–gac–cha–ti || 4-39 8 syllables a-chi-re-naa-dhi-gach-chha-ti
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 39
Context
Krishna names the qualities needed to gain knowledge and its result.
Meaning
Three qualities prepare the way: śraddhā, faith that trusts the teaching enough to practise it; tatpara, single-minded devotion to the goal; and saṃyatendriya, mastery of the senses. With these, knowledge is gained, and from knowledge comes parā śānti, supreme peace, not after a long time but acireṇa, soon.
Faith here is not blind belief, but openness and confidence that allow us to persevere. Without it we give up too soon. With faith, focus and self-discipline, the path becomes direct, and peace is its natural fruit.
In Practice
Choose one teaching you trust. Practise it with faith and focus for a week, and observe whether greater peace arises.
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.