Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Vijnana Yoga, Shloka 3

Jnana Vijnana Yoga

Devanagari script

मनुष्याणां सहस्त्रेषु कश्र्चिद्यतति सिद्धये । यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्र्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥ ७.३ ॥

Transliteration

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye | yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ || 7.3 ||

Translation

മനുഷ്യരിൽ ആയിരങ്ങളിൽ ഒരാൾ മാത്രമേ സിദ്ധിയ്ക്കായി പരിശ്രമിക്കൂ; പരിശ്രമിച്ച് സിദ്ധി നേടിയവരിലും ഒരാൾ മാത്രമേ എന്നെ തത്ത്വമായി അറിയുകയുള്ളൂ.

Gita Press Meaning

Among thousands of men, one perhaps strives for perfection; and among those who strive and have attained, one perhaps truly knows Me.

Critical Edition Meaning

Among thousands of humans, someone may strive for attainment; even among the strivers who have become accomplished, someone may know Me in truth.

Comparative Note

Siddhi is variously taken as ‘perfection,’ ‘success,’ or ‘accomplishment.’ Some devotional traditions read the verse as emphasizing the rarity of true God-knowledge; academic readings also note its rhetorical function: motivating disciplined pursuit by highlighting difficulty.

Word by Word

• मनुष्याणाम्: of men (of human beings)
• Root: मनुष्य

• सहस्रेषु: among thousands
• सहस्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Root: सहस्र

• कश्चित्: someone, a certain one
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Root: कश्चित्

• यतति: strives, makes effort
• Root: √यत्

• सिद्धये: for perfection / for attainment
• सिद्धये: Sampradana
• Root: सिद्धि

• यतताम्: of those who strive
• Root: √यत्

• अपि: even, also
• Root: अपि

• सिद्धानाम्: of the perfected (accomplished ones)
• Root: सिद्ध

• कश्चित्: someone, a certain one
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Root: कश्चित्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Root: अस्मद्

• वेत्ति: knows
• Root: √विद्

• तत्त्वतः: in truth, as it really is
• Root: तत्त्वतः

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Sādhana (spiritual practice)
• Siddhi/Siddha (attainment/accomplished practitioner)
• Tattva-jñāna (knowledge of reality as it is)

Key Themes

• Rarity of deep realization
• Gradation from effort to attainment to true knowing
• Spiritual elitism as rhetorical impetus (not necessarily social hierarchy)

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse recognizes that sustained transformation is uncommon: motivation, perseverance, and clarity of aim are statistically rare, and even successful discipline does not automatically yield profound insight.

Metaphysical meaning?

It distinguishes proximate attainments (siddhi as competence/achievement) from ultimate discernment of the divine ‘in truth’ (tattvataḥ), implying that not all spiritual success equals final understanding.

Contextual relevance?

It supports the chapter’s forthcoming metaphysics by preparing the listener: the teaching is presented as subtle and demanding, requiring more than ordinary effort.

Modern Application?

Read nonsectarianly, it cautions against equating performance or credentials with wisdom; it recommends humility and continued inquiry even after achieving milestones.