In Bhagavad Gita 4.4, Arjuna asks how Krishna, born recently, could have taught this yoga to Vivasvan, who was born long before.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अपरं भवतो जन्म
परं जन्म विवस्वतः
कथमेतद्विजानीयां
त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥ ४-४ ॥
aparaṃ bhavato janma
paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ
kathametadvijānīyāṃ
tvamādau proktavāniti
English transliteration aparam bhavato janma
param janma vivasvatah
kathametadvijaaneeyaam
tvamaadau proktavaaniti ॥ 4.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: Your birth was later, and the birth of Vivasvan was earlier. How am I to understand that you taught this in the beginning?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अपरम् aparam | later |
| भवतः bhavataḥ | your |
| जन्म janma | birth |
| परम् param | earlier |
| जन्म janma | birth |
| विवस्वतः vivasvataḥ | of Vivasvān |
| कथम् katham | how |
| एतत् etat | this |
| विजानीयाम् vijānīyām | may I understand |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| आदौ ādau | in the beginning |
| प्रोक्तवान् proktavān | taught |
| इति iti | thus |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–pa–raṃ bha–va–to jan–ma 8 syllables a-pa-ram bha-va-to jan-ma
- pa–raṃ jan–ma vi–vas–va–taḥ | 8 syllables pa-ram jan-ma vi-vas-va-tah
- ka–tha–me–tad–vi–jā–nī–yāṃ 8 syllables ka-tha-me-tad-vi-jaa-nee-yaam
- tva–mā–dau prok–ta–vā–ni–ti || 4-4 8 syllables tva-maa-dau prok-ta-vaa-ni-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 4
Context
Arjuna responds to Krishna’s claim in 4.1–4.3 with a reasonable question.
Meaning
Arjuna knows Krishna as his cousin and friend, born in his own generation. How could he have taught the sun god at the dawn of creation? The question is honest and logical. It invites Krishna to reveal the mystery of his own nature, which he does in the following verses.
Questions are the doorway to deeper understanding. Arjuna does not simply accept or reject; he asks. The Gita values this kind of inquiry. Through honest questions, the teaching moves from history to the mystery of divine incarnation.
In Practice
When a spiritual teaching puzzles you, frame the puzzle as a clear question and bring it to study, reflection or a teacher.
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.