Bhagavad Gita BG 7.3

Chapter 7, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation

मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये । यतताम् अपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥

manushyanam sahasreshu kashcid yatati siddhaye yatatam api siddhanam kashcin mam vetti tattvatah

Meaning

Among thousands of men, one perhaps strives for spiritual perfection; and among those who strive — even among the perfected — perhaps one knows Me in truth.

Understanding

This verse delivers one of the Gita's most sobering and clarifying statements about the rarity of genuine spiritual knowledge. Among the thousands (sahasreshu) of human beings who live, only 'kashcid' (some one, perhaps one) even strives (yatati) for perfection (siddhaye). The vast majority of humanity is absorbed entirely in the world — not seeking liberation, not even asking the fundamental questions. But then Krishna introduces a second and even more humbling level: even among those who DO strive — and even among the perfected ones (siddhanam) — only 'kashcid' knows Krishna in truth (tattvatah). 'Tattvatah' (in truth, in reality, according to the tattva/essence) is the critical qualifier. Intellectual knowledge, devotional warmth, moral perfection — all these fall short of knowing Krishna tattvatah. This verse is not discouraging — it is clarifying the stakes. The teaching of Chapter 7 (jnana-vijnana) is offered precisely to provide this rare knowledge. Context: this follows verse 2's promise that 'nothing shall remain unknown' — setting up the magnitude of what is about to be revealed.

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