O sinless Arjuna, thus this most secret teaching has been spoken by Me. Knowing this, a person becomes wise and has accomplished all that must be done, O descendant of Bharata.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 15.20
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे निष्पाप अर्जुन इस प्रकार यह अत्यन्त गोपनीय शास्त्र मेरे द्वारा कहा गया है । हे भरतवंशी अर्जुन इसको जानकर मनुष्य ज्ञानवान् तथा प्राप्तप्राप्तव्य और कृतकृत्य हो जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
इतिthusगुह्यतमम्most secretशास्त्रम्teachingइदम्thisउक्तम्spokenमयाby meअनघO sinless oneएतत्thisबुद्ध्वाhaving knownबुद्धिमान्wiseस्यात्becomesकृतकृत्यःone who has done what must be doneचandभारतO descendant of Bharata
Read literallythus · most secret · teaching · this · spoken · by me · O sinless one · this · having known · wise · becomes · one who has done what must be done · and · O descendant of Bharata
Understanding the verse
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Krishna seals Chapter 15 as a secret teaching: knowing it makes one wise and finishes what must be done.
Krishna says he has shared the most hidden teaching. A person who truly understands it becomes wise and feels complete, with nothing essential left undone.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
After revealing the supreme self and the secret of liberation, Krishna closes the teaching. Arjuna stands at the edge of war, and Krishna says this knowledge completes a human life.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You finish the hardest conversation of your life and sit in silence afterward, knowing the truth has finally been said. Some understandings do not add more to you; they make you whole.
The takeaway
“Understand this teaching, and the work a life is meant to do is done.”
Krishna says he has shared the most hidden teaching. A person who truly understands it becomes wise and feels complete, with nothing essential left undone.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 15.20?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Purushottama Yoga" (The Yoga of the Supreme Person).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 15.20?
Verse 20 sits in Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita — Purushottama Yoga, "The Yoga of the Supreme Person". The chapter has 20 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 15.20 matter today?
You finish the hardest conversation of your life and sit in silence afterward, knowing the truth has finally been said. Some understandings do not add more to you; they make you whole.
Krishna seals Chapter 15 as a secret teaching: knowing it makes one wise and finishes what must be done.
What this verse means
Krishna says he has shared the most hidden teaching. A person who truly understands it becomes wise and feels complete, with nothing essential left undone.
Context & commentary
After revealing the supreme self and the secret of liberation, Krishna closes the teaching. Arjuna stands at the edge of war, and Krishna says this knowledge completes a human life.
What it looks like today
You finish the hardest conversation of your life and sit in silence afterward, knowing the truth has finally been said. Some understandings do not add more to you; they make you whole.
“Understand this teaching, and the work a life is meant to do is done.”
Explore related themes: moksha (34 verses), jnana (24 verses), purushottama (14 verses)