Shloka 18
ज्ञानात्मानं ज्ञानगम्यं ज्ञानश्रेष्ठं सुदुर्विदम् । दातारं चैव भक्तानां प्रसादविहितान् वरान्,वे ज्ञानस्वरूप, ज्ञानगम्य तथा ज्ञानमें श्रेष्ठ हैं। उनके स्वरूपको समझ लेना अत्यन्त कठिन है। वे अपने भक्तोंको कृपापूर्वक मनोवांछित उत्तम फल देनेवाले हैं
jñānātmānaṃ jñānagamyaṃ jñānaśreṣṭhaṃ sudurvidam | dātāraṃ caiva bhaktānāṃ prasādavihitān varān ||
Vyāsa said: He is of the very essence of knowledge, attainable through true knowledge, and supreme among all that is known—yet exceedingly difficult to comprehend. And to His devotees He is the giver, bestowing through grace the excellent boons they desire.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The divine is characterized as the essence and summit of knowledge, yet not easily grasped by intellect alone; realization is linked to true knowledge and fulfilled by grace. Devotion (bhakti) becomes ethically significant because it invites prasāda—gracious bestowal of worthy fruits—rather than mere argumentative understanding.
Vyāsa describes the nature of the supreme being to whom devotion is directed: difficult to comprehend, yet compassionate toward devotees. In the broader Drona-parvan setting of crisis and warfare, such statements function as spiritual orientation—affirming that beyond the turmoil, grace and higher knowledge remain accessible through sincere devotion.