In Bhagavad Gita 9.11, Krishna says the deluded disregard him when he takes a human form, not knowing his higher nature as the great Lord of all beings.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा
मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्
परं भावमजानन्तो
मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ॥ ९-११ ॥
avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā
mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam
paraṃ bhāvamajānanto
mama bhūtamaheśvaram
English transliteration avajaananti maam moodhaa
maanusheem tanumaashritam
param bhaavamajaananto
mama bhootamaheshvaram ॥ 9.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The deluded disregard Me when I take on a human form, not knowing My higher nature as the great Lord of all beings.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अवजानन्ति avajānanti | disregard |
| माम् mām | Me |
| मूढाः mūḍhāḥ | the deluded |
| मानुषीम् mānuṣīm | human |
| तनुम् tanum | form |
| आश्रितम् āśritam | taking on |
| परम् param | higher |
| भावम् bhāvam | nature |
| अजानन्तः ajānantaḥ | not knowing |
| मम mama | My |
| भूतमहेश्वरम् bhūtamaheśvaram | the great Lord of beings bhūta (beings) + mahā (great) + īśvaram (Lord) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–va–jā–nan–ti māṃ mū–ḍhā 8 syllables a-va-jaa-nan-ti maam moo-dhaa
- mā–nu–ṣīṃ ta–nu–māś–ri–tam | 8 syllables maa-nu-sheem ta-nu-maash-ri-tam
- pa–raṃ bhā–va–ma–jā–nan–to 8 syllables pa-ram bhaa-va-ma-jaa-nan-to
- ma–ma bhū–ta–ma–heś–va–ram || 9-11 8 syllables ma-ma bhoo-ta-ma-hesh-va-ram
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 9 Verse 11
Context
Krishna explains how people misunderstand him (9.11–9.12).
Meaning
When the Divine takes a human form, many see only an ordinary person and avajānanti, disregard or belittle, it. They do not recognise the para bhāva, the supreme nature behind the form, that is bhūta-maheśvara, the great Lord of all beings.
This applies beyond Krishna. The Divine is present in every being, yet we often see only the surface. Learning to look deeper reveals the sacred in the ordinary.
In Practice
Look at someone you tend to overlook today, and try to sense the Divine presence within them.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.