Bhagavad Gita BG 18.67
Chapter 18, Verse 67 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन । न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां यो ऽभ्यसूयति ॥
idam te na tapaskaya na abhaktaya kadacana na ca ashushrusave vacyam na ca mam yo 'bhyasuyati
Meaning
This is never to be told by you to one without austerity, nor to one without devotion, nor to one who does not wish to hear, nor to one who speaks ill of Me.
Understanding
The teaching on who should NOT receive this knowledge: na tapaskaya (not to one without tapas/austerity — some inner discipline is required). Na abhaktaya kadacana (never to one without devotion — bhakti is the essential receptive capacity). Na ashushrusave (not to one without the desire to hear/serve — ashu-shrusha = the desire to listen and learn). Na ca mam yo 'bhyasuyati (and not to one who speaks ill of Me, who carps and criticizes with malice). The teaching is not secret for competitive or elitist reasons, but because the receptive capacity (tapas, bhakti, shushrusha) must be present for the teaching to function. Seeds need appropriate soil.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| तपस्काय | tapaskaya | to one with tapas (austerity/discipline) |
| अभक्ताय | abhaktaya | to one without devotion (a-bhakta = non-devotee) |
| कदाचन | kadacana | never, at any time, ever |
| अशुश्रूषवे | ashushrusave | to one without desire to hear/serve (a-shushrusha) |
| अभ्यसूयति | abhyasuyati | speaks ill of, carps at, disparages with malice |
| इदम् | idam | this |
| ते | te | by you |
| न | na tapaskāya | not to one without austerity |
| न | na abhaktāya | not to one without devotion |
| कदाचन | kadācana | ever |
| न | na ca aśuśrūṣave | nor to one without obedience |
| वाच्यम् | vācyam | should be spoken |
| न | na ca | nor to |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| अभ्यसूयति | abhyasūyati | is envious of |