In Bhagavad Gita 7.24, Krishna says those without understanding think of him, the unmanifest, as having come into manifestation, not knowing his higher, imperishable and supreme nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिमापन्नं
मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः
परं भावमजानन्तो
ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम् ॥ ७-२४ ॥
avyaktaṃ vyaktimāpannaṃ
manyante māmabuddhayaḥ
paraṃ bhāvamajānanto
mamāvyayamanuttamam
English transliteration avyaktam vyaktimaapannam
manyante maamabuddhayah
param bhaavamajaananto
mamaavyayamanuttamam ॥ 7.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The unintelligent think of Me, the unmanifest, as having taken on a manifest form, not knowing My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अव्यक्तम् avyaktam | the unmanifest |
| व्यक्तिम् vyaktim | manifestation |
| आपन्नम् āpannam | having come into |
| मन्यन्ते manyante | think |
| माम् mām | Me |
| अबुद्धयः abuddhayaḥ | the unintelligent |
| परम् param | higher |
| भावम् bhāvam | nature |
| अजानन्तः ajānantaḥ | not knowing |
| मम mama | My |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
| अनुत्तमम् anuttamam | supreme |
Word-wise Chanting
- av–yak–taṃ vyak–ti–mā–pan–naṃ 8 syllables av-yak-tam vyak-ti-maa-pan-nam
- man–yan–te mā–ma–bud–dha–yaḥ | 8 syllables man-yan-te maa-ma-bud-dha-yah
- pa–raṃ bhā–va–ma–jā–nan–to 8 syllables pa-ram bhaa-va-ma-jaa-nan-to
- ma–māv–ya–ya–ma–nut–ta–mam || 7-24 8 syllables ma-maav-ya-ya-ma-nut-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 7 Verse 24
Context
Krishna explains how people misunderstand his nature (7.24–7.25).
Meaning
Those without deep understanding see Krishna as merely a human being who was born at a certain time, like anyone else. They do not grasp his para bhāva, his supreme nature, which is avyaya, imperishable, and anuttama, unsurpassed. His form is a gracious appearance of the formless, not a limitation of it.
This verse warns against reducing the Divine to a mere historical person or idea. The forms through which the Divine appears are real, but they point beyond themselves to the infinite. Devotion to a form, rightly understood, opens to the formless.
In Practice
When you worship or think of the Divine in a form, remember that it is a window to the infinite, not a limit.
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.