Shloka 18

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

jñānātmānaṃ jñānagamyaṃ jñānaśreṣṭhaṃ sudurvidam | dātāraṃ caiva bhaktānāṃ prasādavihitān varān ||

Translation

ヴィヤーサは言った。彼は知そのものを本性とし、真の知によって到達され、知られうる一切の中で最上である—しかしその本体を悟ることはきわめて難しい。けれども彼は信奉者にとって施与者であり、恩寵によって彼らの望む最上の恩恵を授ける。

Word by Word

ज्ञानात्मानम्one whose essence is knowledge

ज्ञानगम्यम्attainable/knowable through knowledge

ज्ञानश्रेष्ठम्supreme among (objects of) knowledge / best in knowledge

सुदुर्विदम्very difficult to know

दातारम्giver

चand

एवindeed/just

भक्तानाम्of devotees

प्रसादविहितान्bestowed through grace

वरान्boons/excellent gifts

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

the Lord (implied divine being addressed as the object of devotion and knowledge)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.