Sanskrit

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।

उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

4.34

Transliteration

tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā |

upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ ||

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3

Translation

Know That by long prostration, by estion and by service; the wise who have realised the Truth will instruct thee in (that) knowledge.

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By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08

Explanation

Krishna explains how such knowledge is gained. It comes through praṇipāta, humble approach and bowing; paripraśna, sincere and searching questions; and sevā, service to the teacher. Those who have seen the truth, tattvadarśins, will then share it. The verse describes the ideal relationship between student and teacher in Indian tradition: humility without blind acceptance, since questioning is encouraged, and devotion shown through service. It also implies that this knowledge is passed from person to person, not merely read.

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08