In Bhagavad Gita 7.17, Krishna says that of these, the wise one, ever united and devoted to the One, is the best; he is very dear to the wise, and the wise is dear to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त
एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थम्
अहं स च मम प्रियः ॥ ७-१७ ॥
teṣāṃ jñānī nityayukta
ekabhaktirviśiṣyate
priyo hi jñānino’tyartham
ahaṃ sa ca mama priyaḥ
English transliteration teshaam jnaanee nityayukta
ekabhaktirvishishyate
priyo hi jnaanino’tyartham
aham sa cha mama priyah ॥ 7.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Of these, the wise one, ever steadfast and devoted to the One alone, is the best. For I am exceedingly dear to the wise, and the wise is dear to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तेषाम् teṣām | of them |
| ज्ञानी jñānī | the wise |
| नित्ययुक्तः nityayuktaḥ | ever steadfast nitya (ever) + yuktaḥ (united) |
| एकभक्तिः ekabhaktiḥ | devoted to the One eka (one) + bhaktiḥ (devotion) |
| विशिष्यते viśiṣyate | is the best |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
| हि hi | indeed |
| ज्ञानिनः jñāninaḥ | to the wise |
| अत्यर्थम् atyartham | exceedingly |
| अहम् aham | I |
| सः saḥ | he |
| च ca | and |
| मम mama | to Me |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
Word-wise Chanting
- te–ṣāṃ jñā–nī nit–ya–yuk–ta 8 syllables te-shaam jnaa-nee nit-ya-yuk-ta
- e–ka–bhak–tir–vi–śiṣ–ya–te | 8 syllables e-ka-bhak-tir-vi-shish-ya-te
- pri–yo hi jñā–ni–no–‘tyar–tham– 8 syllables pri-yo hi jnaa-ni-no-‘tyar-tham-
- a–haṃ sa ca ma–ma pri–yaḥ || 7-17 8 syllables a-ham sa cha ma-ma pri-yah
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 7 Verse 17
Context
Krishna singles out the wise devotee among the four types (7.16).
Meaning
The jñānī is nitya-yukta, always united with the Divine, and eka-bhakti, devoted to the One alone, without asking for anything. Their love is pure, so the relationship is mutual and complete: the Divine is supremely dear to them, and they are dear to the Divine.
This verse shows that knowledge and love are not opposed. The truly wise love the Divine most purely, because they know it fully. Love based on understanding is the deepest and most stable love.
In Practice
Spend a few minutes loving the Divine without asking for anything at all, simply enjoying the relationship.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). 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.