Therefore one should seek that supreme state, reaching which one does not return again. I take refuge in that original Person from whom this ancient creation has spread forth.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 15.4
Hindi · हिन्दी
उसके बाद उस परमपदपरमात्मा की खोज करनी चाहिये जिसको प्राप्त होनेपर मनुष्य फिर लौटकर संसारमें नहीं आते और जिससे अनादिकालसे चली आनेवाली यह सृष्टि विस्तारको प्राप्त हुई है, उस आदिपुरुष परमात्माके ही मैं शरण हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
ततःthereforeपदम्stateतत्thatपरिमार्गितव्यम्should be soughtयस्मिन्in whichगताःgoneनnotनिवर्तन्तिreturnभूयःagainतम्thatएवindeedचandआद्यम्originalपुरुषम्Personप्रपद्येI take refugeयतःfrom whomप्रवृत्तिःemanationप्रसृताspread forthपुराणीancient
Read literallytherefore · state · that · should be sought · in which · gone · not · return · again · that · indeed · and · original · Person · I take refuge · from whom · emanation · spread forth · ancient
Understanding the verse
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After the cutting comes the search: Krishna points to the state from which no one returns.
Beyond the changing world lies a supreme state where return stops. Krishna says that state should be sought, and he himself takes refuge in the original Person from whom creation unfolds.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna leads him past the tangled world-tree of change. After showing how to cut free from the lower world, Krishna points to the final destination: the supreme state beyond return, rooted in the original Person.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
After a parent's funeral, when the relatives leave and the house goes quiet, many people start asking where it all comes from. Krishna answers by pointing to the original Person and asking you to take refuge there.
The takeaway
“Seek the place of no return, and take refuge in the original Person.”
Beyond the changing world lies a supreme state where return stops. Krishna says that state should be sought, and he himself takes refuge in the original Person from whom creation unfolds.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 15.4?
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 15.4?
Verse 4 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 15.4 matter today?
After a parent's funeral, when the relatives leave and the house goes quiet, many people start asking where it all comes from. Krishna answers by pointing to the original Person and asking you to take refuge there.
After the cutting comes the search: Krishna points to the state from which no one returns.
What this verse means
Beyond the changing world lies a supreme state where return stops. Krishna says that state should be sought, and he himself takes refuge in the original Person from whom creation unfolds.
Context & commentary
Krishna leads him past the tangled world-tree of change. After showing how to cut free from the lower world, Krishna points to the final destination: the supreme state beyond return, rooted in the original Person.
What it looks like today
After a parent's funeral, when the relatives leave and the house goes quiet, many people start asking where it all comes from. Krishna answers by pointing to the original Person and asking you to take refuge there.
“Seek the place of no return, and take refuge in the original Person.”
Explore related themes: purushottama (14 verses)