Bhagavad Gita BG 11.54
Chapter 11, Verse 54 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन । ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ॥
bhaktya tv ananyaya shakya aham evam-vidho 'rjuna jnatum drashtum ca tattvena pravestum ca parantapa
Meaning
But by undivided devotion (ananya-bhakti), O Arjuna, I can thus be truly known, and seen, and entered into, O Parantapa.
Understanding
The climactic teaching of Ch11: bhaktya tv ananyaya (but by undivided/exclusive devotion). Ananya = without other, not divided. Three things possible through ananya-bhakti: (1) jnatum tattvena (truly known — in principle/reality), (2) drashtum (seen — vision/darshana), (3) pravestum (entered into — full realization/merger). The three stages of spiritual realization: knowing, seeing, entering. And all three are possible only through ananya-bhakti — the devotion that is undivided, that has no other support or object.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| भक्त्या | bhaktya | by devotion, through bhakti |
| अनन्यया | ananyaya | undivided, exclusive, 'without other' |
| तत्त्वेन | tattvena | in truth/principle, truly, in reality |
| द्रष्टुम् | drashtum | to be seen, direct vision |
| प्रवेष्टुम् | pravestum | to be entered into, to merge into |
| भक्त्या | bhaktyā | by devotion |
| तु | tu | but |
| अनन्यया | ananyayā | by undivided, exclusive devotion |
| शक्यः | śakyaḥ | it is possible |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| एवम्-विधः | evam-vidhaḥ | in this form, as such |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | O Arjuna |
| ज्ञातुम् | jñātum | to know |
| द्रष्टुम् | draṣṭum | to see |
| च | ca | and |
| प्रवेष्टुम् | praveṣṭum | to enter into |
| च | ca | and |
| परन्तप | parantapa | O scorcher of enemies |