Chapter 7 · Shloka 1— The Yoga of Knowledge & Realization

śhrī bhagavān uvācha mayyāsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśhrayaḥ asanśhayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tach chhṛiṇu

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha

— the Supreme Lord said

mayi

— to me

āsakta-manāḥ

— with the mind attached

pārtha

— Arjun, the son of Pritha

yogam

— bhakti yog

yuñjan

— practicing

mat-āśhrayaḥ

— surrendering to me

asanśhayam

— free from doubt

samagram

— completely

mām

— me

yathā

— how

jñāsyasi

— you shall know

tat

— that

śhṛiṇu

— listen

"Sri-bhagavan uvaca: Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah, asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi tac chrnu." — The Blessed Lord said: With mind attached to Me, O Partha, practicing yoga and taking refuge in Me, hear how you shall know Me fully, without any doubt. Krishna opens Chapter 7, beginning the second great section of the Gita (chapters 7–12), which centers on knowledge of God and the path of devotion. After teaching meditation in Chapter 6 and crowning it with devotion (6.47), he now promises to reveal complete knowledge of Himself. Three conditions are named for this complete knowing. 'Mayy asakta-manah' — with the mind attached to (lovingly absorbed in) Me. 'Yogam yunjan' — practicing yoga, continuing the disciplined inner work. 'Mad-asrayah' — taking refuge in Me, depending wholly on the Divine. With these three together — loving absorption, disciplined practice, and complete reliance — one can come to know Krishna in His fullness. The promise is striking: 'asamsayam samagram mam yatha jnasyasi' — how you shall know Me completely (samagram) and without any doubt (asamsayam). Shankaracharya notes the comprehensiveness: not partial or theoretical knowledge, but complete and doubt-free realization of the Supreme. The verse sets the tone for the chapter and the whole second section: this knowledge is not gained by intellect alone but by the combination of love, practice, and surrender. Krishna asks Arjuna simply to 'hear' (srnu) — to receive the revelation with an open, attentive heart.

Krishna lays out the conditions for truly knowing the deepest reality, and notably it's not pure intellect: it's love (mind absorbed), practice (disciplined effort), and refuge (complete reliance). This is a profound point about how we come to know what matters most. Some truths can't be grasped by analysis alone from a cold distance — they require engagement, devotion, and a willingness to depend on something beyond your own ego. Whether in relationships, art, or the deepest realities, the fullest knowing comes through loving participation, not detached observation. You don't fully know what you only study from the outside; you know what you give your heart to.

Krishna lays out how to truly KNOW the deepest reality — and notably, it's not pure intellect. It's love (mind absorbed), practice (disciplined effort), and refuge (full reliance). This is a deep point about how we come to know what matters most. Some truths can't be grasped by cold analysis from a safe distance — they need engagement, devotion, and the willingness to lean on something beyond your own ego. Whether it's relationships, art, or the deepest realities: the fullest knowing comes through loving participation, not detached observation. You don't really know what you only study from the outside. You know what you give your heart to.

Krishna begins teaching Arjuna how to know God completely, with no doubts at all! He says there are three keys: love God with all your heart, keep practicing the path, and depend on God fully. With these three things together, you can come to truly know the Divine! It's like how you really get to know a dear friend — not just by reading about them, but by loving them, spending time with them, and trusting them. Then Krishna says: 'Listen!' and gets ready to share!