Bhagavad Gita BG 18.63
Chapter 18, Verse 63 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया । विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥
iti te jnanam akhyatam guhyad guhyataram maya vimrshyaitad asheshena yathecchasi tatha kuru
Meaning
Thus the knowledge more secret than all secrets has been declared to you by Me. Reflect on this fully, and then do as you choose.
Understanding
The conclusion of the teaching: iti te jnanam akhyatam (thus this knowledge has been declared to you). GuhyAd guhyataram (more secret than the secret — the superlative of all secret teachings, surpassing even the guhyatamam of Ch9). Maya (by Me — Krishna taking full authorship). Vimrshyaitad asheshena (reflect on this COMPLETELY/without remainder — asheshena = without any part left out). Yathecchasi tatha kuru (and then do as you choose/wish). The remarkable ending: after the entire teaching, Krishna gives Arjuna back his freedom. He does not command; He teaches and then returns agency to Arjuna. This is the nature of the teaching: complete invitation, not compulsion.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| गुह्यात् | guhyad | than the secret (comparative) |
| गुह्यतरम् | guhyataram | more secret, the more hidden (most secret of teachings) |
| विमृश्य | vimrshya | having reflected, having pondered, deliberating |
| अशेषेण | asheshena | fully, completely, without any part remaining (a-shesha = without remainder) |
| यथेच्छसि | yathecchasi | as you wish, as you choose, as you desire |
| इति | iti | thus |
| ते | te | to you |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| आख्यातम् | ākhyātam | explained |
| गुह्यात् | guhyāt | than secret |
| मया | mayā | by Me |
| विमृश्य | vimṛśya | deliberating |
| एतत् | etat | this |
| अशेषेण | aśeṣeṇa | fully, completely |
| यथा | yathā icchasi | as you wish |
| तथा | tathā kuru | do accordingly |