Mahabharata 6.36.1 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 36, Shloka 1

Guṇa-traya-vibhāga-yoga (त्रिगुणविभागयोग) — The Analysis of the Three Guṇas

Devanagari script

७८) “उत्पत्ति और प्रलयको

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogiṁs tvāṁ sadā paricintayan | keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo 'si bhagavan mayā ||

Translation

Arjuna berkata: “Wahai Tuhan, sebagai seorang yang mencari penyatuan dengan Yang Ilahi, bagaimanakah aku harus sentiasa merenungkan-Mu? Wahai Bhagavan, dalam bentuk-bentuk, sifat-sifat, dan ranah pengalaman yang manakah aku patut bermeditasi kepada-Mu?”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'arjuna uvāca', 'definition': 'Arjuna said'}, {'term': 'katham', 'definition': 'how?'}, {'term': 'vidyām', 'definition': 'may I know/understand (from √vid, ‘to know’)'}, {'term': 'yogin', 'definition': 'a practitioner of yoga

• one intent on disciplined contemplation'}, {'term': 'tvām', 'definition': 'you'}, {'term': 'sadā', 'definition': 'always, continually'}, {'term': 'paricintayan', 'definition': 'contemplating, reflecting upon repeatedly'}, {'term': 'keṣu keṣu', 'definition': 'in which (specific) cases/contexts'}, {'term': 'bhāveṣu', 'definition': 'states, conditions, aspects, modes of being

• spheres of experience'}, {'term': 'cintyaḥ asi', 'definition': 'are to be contemplated/meditated upon'}, {'term': 'bhagavan', 'definition': 'the Blessed Lord

• one possessing fullness of divine excellences (bhaga)'}, {'term': 'mayā', 'definition': 'by me'}]

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Krishna (Bhagavan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Arjuna seeks a practical method for constant God-remembrance: he asks in which concrete ‘bhāvas’ (aspects, domains, exemplary manifestations) the Lord should be contemplated, preparing the ground for the teaching of divine vibhūtis (special manifestations).

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield dialogue, after hearing Krishna’s teachings, Arjuna’s longing intensifies; he requests guidance for sustained contemplation—how to keep the mind anchored in the Lord by meditating on recognizable manifestations of divine power and excellence.