In Bhagavad Gita 9.2, Krishna calls this knowledge the king of sciences and the king of secrets, supremely pure, directly experienced, righteous, easy to practise and imperishable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
राजविद्या राजगुह्यं
पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं
सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ॥ ९-२ ॥
rājavidyā rājaguhyaṃ
pavitramidamuttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṃ dharmyaṃ
susukhaṃ kartumavyayam
English transliteration raajavidyaa raajaguhyam
pavitramidamuttamam
pratyakshaavagamam dharmyam
susukham kartumavyayam ॥ 9.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
This is the king of knowledge, the king of secrets, supremely purifying. It is known by direct experience, it is in accord with dharma, very easy to practise and imperishable.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| राजविद्या rājavidyā | king of knowledge rāja (king) + vidyā (knowledge) |
| राजगुह्यम् rājaguhyam | king of secrets rāja (king) + guhyam (secret) |
| पवित्रम् pavitram | purifying |
| इदम् idam | this |
| उत्तमम् uttamam | supreme |
| प्रत्यक्षावगमम् pratyakṣāvagamam | known by direct experience pratyakṣa (direct) + avagamam (understanding) |
| धर्म्यम् dharmyam | in accord with dharma |
| सुसुखम् susukham | very easy |
| कर्तुम् kartum | to practise |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- rā–ja–vid–yā rā–ja–guh–yaṃ 8 syllables raa-ja-vid-yaa raa-ja-guh-yam
- pa–vit–ra–mi–da–mut–ta–mam | 8 syllables pa-vit-ra-mi-da-mut-ta-mam
- prat–ya–kṣā–va–ga–maṃ dhar–myaṃ 8 syllables prat-ya-kshaa-va-ga-mam dhar-myam
- su–su–khaṃ kar–tu–mav–ya–yam || 9-2 8 syllables su-su-kham kar-tu-mav-ya-yam
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 2
Context
Krishna praises the knowledge he is about to give (continuing 9.1).
Meaning
Krishna lists the qualities of this knowledge. It is rāja-vidyā and rāja-guhya, the sovereign among all forms of knowledge and secrets. It is pavitra, purifying. It is pratyakṣa-avagama, verified in direct experience rather than accepted on hearsay. It is dharmya, righteous; susukha, joyful and easy to practise; and avyaya, its fruit never perishes.
Spiritual knowledge here is not a theory to be believed but an experience to be lived. It is easy because it is natural: it is the knowledge of our own source.
In Practice
Test one teaching of the Gita in your own experience this week, rather than simply accepting or rejecting it.
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.