Bhagavad Gita BG 18.20
Chapter 18, Verse 20 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते । अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ॥
sarva-bhuteshu yenaikan bhavam avyayam iksate avibhaktam vibhakteshu taj jnanam viddhi sattvikam
Meaning
That knowledge by which one sees the one imperishable Being in all beings, undivided in the divided — know that knowledge as sattvic.
Understanding
The definition of sattvic jnana: sarva-bhuteshu ekam bhavam avyayam iksate (sees in all beings the ONE imperishable Being). Avibhaktam vibhakteshu (undivided in the divided — the one within the many). This is the highest knowledge from Ch13: 'samam sarveshu bhuteshu' — the same everywhere, the undivided Consciousness within all divided forms. Sattvic knowledge is non-dual knowledge: knowing the ONE that is present in all the many, without being confused by the surface diversity.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| एकम् भावम् | ekam bhavam | the one Being, the single Reality |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | imperishable, unchanging |
| अविभक्तम् | avibhaktam | undivided, without division |
| विभक्तेषु | vibhakteshu | in the divided, among the differentiated |
| सर्व-भूतेषु | sarva-bhūteṣu | in all beings |
| येन | yena | by which |
| एकम् | ekam | one, undivided |
| भावम् | bhāvam | existence |
| ईक्षते | īkṣate | sees |
| विभक्तेषु | vibhakteṣu | among the divided |
| तत् | taj | that |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| सात्त्विकम् | sāttvikam | in goodness |
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