Jnana Vijnana Yoga · Verse 17

Bhagavad Gita 7.17

Deep knowing and devoted love become a mutual bond.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्ितर्विशिष्यते ।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
उन चार भक्तोंमें मेरेमें निरन्तर लगा हुआ, अनन्यभक्तिवाला ज्ञानी अर्थात् प्रेमी भक्त श्रेष्ठ है क्योंकि ज्ञानी भक्तको मैं अत्यन्त प्रिय हूँ और वह भी मेरेको अत्यन्त प्रिय है ॥
English
Among those four, the wise devotee who is ever united and one-pointed is श्रेष्ठ. For I am exceedingly dear to the wise one, and the wise one is dear to me.

What this verse means

Among the four kinds of devotees, the wise one who is constantly devoted and single-minded stands highest. Krishna says this devotee is very dear to him, and he is very dear to that devotee.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, with Arjuna still shaken, Krishna has just described four kinds of people who turn to him. Now he crowns the wise devotee as the highest: the one whose devotion is steady, exclusive, and intimate. This verse sets up the deeper claim that follows.

Why this verse still matters

You finally understand someone you once only admired from a distance. The relationship changes when attention, trust, and knowledge stop competing and start reinforcing each other.

The takeaway

Love deepens when understanding and devotion become one.

Word-by-word translation

तेषाम् (among them) / ज्ञानी (the wise one) / नित्ययुक्तः (ever united) / एकभक्तिः (one-pointed in devotion) / विशिष्यते (is distinguished, is श्रेष्ठ) । / प्रियः (dear) / हि (indeed) / ज्ञानिनः (of the wise one) / अत्यर्थम् (greatly, exceedingly) / अहम् (I) / सः (that one) / च (and) / मम (to me) / प्रियः (dear)

Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), jnana (24 verses)

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