โศลก 4.14.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.94.104.114.124.134.144.154.164.174.184.194.204.214.224.234.244.254.264.274.284.294.304.314.324.334.344.354.364.374.384.394.404.414.42

The Blessed Lord said I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.

The Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan; Vivasvan told it to Manu, and Manu passed it on to Ikshvaku.

The fourth chapter opens with Krishna placing his teaching in a long lineage. He taught this yoga first to Vivasvan, the sun, who passed it to Manu, the first lawgiver of humankind, who gave it to Ikshvaku, founder of the solar dynasty of kings. The teaching is thus presented not as something new invented for this crisis but as ancient and imperishable. The verse also contains a startling claim, that Krishna himself was the original teacher, which prepares for Arjuna's question and the revelation that follows.