A core teaching · expansive in mood · builds on earlier teachings
“Three qualities can hide the imperishable reality from plain sight.”
Deluded by these three qualities, the whole world does not know me, who am beyond them and imperishable.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyby three · made of qualities · states · by these · all · this · world · deluded · not · knows · me · from these · beyond · imperishable
The whole world gets confused by the three qualities of nature and fails to recognize Krishna as the imperishable reality beyond them.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Vijnana Yoga" (Knowledge and Wisdom).
Verse 13 sits in Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Vijnana Yoga, "Knowledge and Wisdom". The chapter has 30 verses in total.
You are certain a person is being difficult, but your own anger is coloring every word they say. This verse points to the hidden filter that keeps reality from being seen clearly.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts the mind from reacting inside appearances to asking what lies beyond them.
What this verse means
The whole world gets confused by the three qualities of nature and fails to recognize Krishna as the imperishable reality beyond them.
Context & commentary
Krishna is still speaking to Arjuna on the battlefield, where fear and doubt have frozen action. After explaining that all moods and qualities arise from him, he now says the world stays trapped inside them and cannot recognize what is beyond change.
Why this verse still matters
You are certain a person is being difficult, but your own anger is coloring every word they say. This verse points to the hidden filter that keeps reality from being seen clearly.
“It feels freeing to know confusion is not failure; it is a veil that can be lifted.”