श्रीभगवानुवाच मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः। असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु।।7.1।।
śrī-bhagavān uvāca mayi‑āsakta‑manāḥ pārtha‑yogam yuñjan mā‑āśrayaḥ asaṁśayam samagraṃ māṁ yathā jñāsyeṣi tat‑śṛṇu
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O Arjuna, listen attentively: with the mind devoted solely to Me and taking refuge in Me through yoga, you will, without doubt, know Me completely.
Word Meanings
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; mayi — to Me; āsakta-manāḥ — mind attached; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā; yogam — self‑realization; yuñjan — practicing; mat-āśrayaḥ — in consciousness of Me (Kṛṣṇa consciousness); asaṁśayam — without doubt; samagraṃ — completely; mām — Me; yathā — how; jñāsyeṣi — you can know; tat — that; śṛṇu — try to hear.
Understanding the Verse
In this opening verse of Chapter 7, Lord Krishna shifts the focus from the battlefield dilemmas of the previous chapters to the inner journey of spiritual realization. He addresses Arjuna as "pārtha", reminding him of his lineage and the personal bond that underlies their dialogue. The phrase "mayi‑āsakta‑manāḥ" emphasizes that the mind must be firmly attached to the Divine, free from the distractions of material desires. This exclusive attachment is not merely intellectual assent but a heartfelt devotion that permeates every thought, word, and action.
Krishna then introduces "yogam yuñjan", the practice of yoga, as the means to cultivate this devotion. Here, yoga is understood in its broader Vedic sense: a disciplined method of aligning one's consciousness with the Supreme. By "yuñjan" (practicing) this yoga, the seeker takes "mād‑āśrayaḥ", shelter in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This shelter is not a passive refuge but an active, dynamic relationship where the devotee experiences Krishna’s presence as the ultimate support in all endeavors.
The assurance "asaṁśayam samagraṃ māṁ" removes any lingering doubt about the attainability of divine knowledge. Krishna declares that the knowledge of Him is complete and total, leaving no room for partial understanding or ambiguity. The verb "jñāsyeṣi" (you will know) is future‐oriented, indicating that through sincere devotion, the realization of Krishna’s true nature is inevitable. Finally, "tat‑śṛṇu"—"listen to that"—is a call to attentively receive this teaching, underscoring the importance of focused hearing (shravaṇa) as the first step on the path of bhakti.
Thus, verse 7.1 sets the thematic foundation for the entire chapter: knowledge of the Divine is inseparable from loving devotion. It invites the reader to adopt a mindset anchored in exclusive love for Krishna, practice yoga as a conduit for that love, and trust that such earnest effort will culminate in perfect, doubt‑free knowledge of the Supreme. This verse also subtly prepares the mind for the deeper philosophical expositions that follow, where Krishna will elaborate on His universal form, the material and spiritual energies, and the nature of true devotion.
