Some behold the inner being as wondrous; some speak of it as wondrous; some hear of it as wondrous; and even after hearing, no one truly knows it.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.29
Hindi · हिन्दी
कोई इस शरीरीको आश्चर्यकी तरह देखता है और वैसे ही अन्य कोई इसका आश्चर्यकी तरह वर्णन करता है तथा अन्य कोई इसको आश्चर्यकी तरह सुनता है और इसको सुनकर भी कोई नहीं जानता । अर्थात यह शरीरी दुर्विज्ञेय है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
आश्चर्यवत्as wondrousपश्यतिbeholdsकश्चित्someoneएनम्this oneआश्चर्यवत्as wondrousवदतिspeaksतथाthusएवindeedचandअन्यःanotherआश्चर्यवत्as wondrousचandएनम्this oneअन्यःanotherश्रृणोतिhearsश्रुत्वा अपिeven after hearingएनम्this oneवेदknowsनnotचandएवindeedकश्चित्anyone
Read literallyas wondrous · beholds · someone · this one · as wondrous · speaks · thus · indeed · and · another · as wondrous · and · this one · another · hears · even after hearing · this one · knows · not · and · indeed · anyone
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from collecting descriptions to seeking direct understanding.
The true self is astonishing to behold, describe, and hear about, yet almost no one truly understands it.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen by grief. Krishna deepens the teaching: the inner being is not an ordinary object of thought. People marvel at it, talk about it, listen to it, and still fail to grasp it fully.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You can read three books, hear five opinions, and still miss what matters. Some truths stay hidden until your attention becomes quieter than your analysis.
The takeaway
“Curiosity is not enough; real understanding requires a deeper kind of seeing.”
The true self is astonishing to behold, describe, and hear about, yet almost no one truly understands it.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.29?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.29?
Verse 29 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.29 matter today?
You can read three books, hear five opinions, and still miss what matters. Some truths stay hidden until your attention becomes quieter than your analysis.
It shifts the mind from collecting descriptions to seeking direct understanding.
What this verse means
The true self is astonishing to behold, describe, and hear about, yet almost no one truly understands it.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen by grief. Krishna deepens the teaching: the inner being is not an ordinary object of thought. People marvel at it, talk about it, listen to it, and still fail to grasp it fully.
Why this verse still matters
You can read three books, hear five opinions, and still miss what matters. Some truths stay hidden until your attention becomes quieter than your analysis.
“Curiosity is not enough; real understanding requires a deeper kind of seeing.”
Explore related themes: atman (12 verses)