Yathora

The Gita · Chapter 13

Bhagavad Gita 13.11

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्।एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोन्यथा॥

adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvaṁ tattva-jñānārtha-darśhanam etaj jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato ’nyathā

Translation

Constancy in the wisdom of the Self, understanding of the object of essential wisdom; that is declared to be the Wisdom; all against it is ignorance.

What it means

Constancy in Self-knowledge and devotion to the goal of truth: this is declared to be knowledge; all else is ignorance. The definition lands after the long list. Knowledge is a quality of life, not a quantity of facts.

Try this today

The list ends with a verdict: all these together are wisdom; whatever opposes them is ignorance.

Something to reflect on

If knowledge is a quality of life, not a quantity of facts, how am I doing?

Read it in Yathora
← 13.1013.12 →

Translation by Annie Besant (1905, public domain). The meanings are original to Yathora, drawn from Shankara’s commentary.