FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 18.70

అధ్యేష్యతే చ య ఇమం ధర్మ్యం సంవాదమావయో: । జ్ఞానయజ్ఞేన తేనాహమిష్ట: స్యామితి మే మతి: ॥ ౭౦ ॥
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṁ
[adhyeshyate cha ya imam]
dharmyaṁ saṁvādam āvayoḥ
[dharmyam samvaadam aavayoh]
jñāna-yajñena tenāham
[jnaana-yajnena tenaaham]
iṣṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ
[ishtah syaam iti me matih]
adhyeṣyate — will study ca — also yaḥ — he who imam — this dharmyam — sacred saṁvādam — conversation āvayoḥ — of ours jñāna — of knowledge yajñena — by the sacrifice tena — by him aham — I iṣṭaḥ — worshiped syām — shall be iti — thus me — My matiḥ — opinion .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṁ
adhyeṣyate
will study
ca
also
yaḥ
he who
imam
this
dharmyaṁ saṁvādam āvayoḥ
dharmyam
sacred
saṁvādam
conversation
āvayoḥ
of ours
jñāna-yajñena tenāham
jñāna
of knowledge
yajñena
by the sacrifice
tena
by him
aham
I
iṣṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ
iṣṭaḥ
worshiped
syām
shall be
iti
thus
me
My
matiḥ
opinion .
  • adhyeṣyate — will study
    Future passive. The specific verb for serious textual study — adhi-i, to study. Not casual reading but disciplined engagement. The verse honors the studious reader.
  • dharmyam — sacred
    Adjective. With saṁvādam: the dharmic conversation. Dharmya — in accord with dharma. The verse identifies the Gītā as a *dharmic dialogue*, not as a treatise.
  • āvayoḥ — of us two
    Genitive dual. *Our* conversation — between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna together. The Gītā is repeatedly framed as a two-person event, and the verse preserves that intimate quality.
  • yajñena — by the sacrifice
    Instrumental. With jñāna: by the sacrifice of knowledge. The study itself is *the* sacrifice. The verse re-categorizes scriptural study as a form of yajña — equal in standing to fire-rituals.
  • iṣṭaḥ — worshiped
    Past participle. *I — Kṛṣṇa personally — am worshiped* through this jñāna-yajña. The verse personalizes the reward: study reaches the Lord directly.
And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his intelligence.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
70. It is My conviction that he who studies this sacred conversation between us two will have worshipped Me through the sacrifice of knowledge. [Note: In chapter four Kṛṣṇa stated the the sacrifice of knowledge was superior to the sacrifice of materials.]
Commentary

This verse speaks of the results of studying this scripture.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
70. It is my conviction that he who studies this sacred conversation between us two will have worshipped Me through the sacrifice of knowledge. [Note: In chapter four Kṛṣṇa stated the the sacrifice of knowledge was superior to the sacrifice of materials.]
Commentary

This verse describes the results for one who studies the Gītā. I will have been worshipped (iṣṭaḥ) by the jṣāna yajṣa described previously in chapter four, just by the study of the Gītā. This is my opinion. I am easily attained by the person who studies the Gītā.

Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Benediction for the student

THEME: “One who studies this sacred conversion of ours, worships Me by his intelligence”

Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.70 Ca, and; even he yah, who; adhyesyate, will study; imam, this; samvadam, conversation, the text in the form of a dialogue; between avayoh, us two; which is dharmyam, conducive to virtue, not divorced from virtue; tena, by him; this will be accomplished through that study; aham, I; syam, shall be; istah, adored; jnana-yajnena, through the Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Iti, this is me, My; matih, judgement. As compared with the various sacrifices, viz rituals, loud prayer, prayer uttered in a low voice and mental prayer, the Sacrifice in the from of Knowledge is the best [See 4.33.] because it is mental. Hence, the study of the scripture Gita is praised as that Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Or, this (verse) may merely be a judgement about the result. The idea is that the result of the study is comparable to the result of the Sacrifice in the form of the knowledge of gods and others. Now, this is the reward for the hearer:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.70 He who will study the dialogue between us, which is consistent with the path to realisation, by him I shall be worshipped through the sacrifice of knowledge. Such is My view. The meaning is that whateve sacrifice of knowledge is taught herein, by that I shall become worshipped by the mere fact of its study.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.70 See Comment under 18.72
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.70 And he who will study this sacred dialogue of ours, by him I shall have been worshipped by the sacrifice of wisdom, such is My conviction.
Commentary

18.70 अध्येष्यते shall study? च and? यः who? इमम् this? धर्म्यम् sacred? संवादम् dialogue? आवयोः of ours? ज्ञानयज्ञेन by the sacrifice of wisdom? तेन by him? अहम् I? इष्टः worshipped? स्याम् (I) shall have been? इति thus? मे My? मतिः conviction. Commentary There are four kinds of sacrifice -- Vidhi? Japa? Upamsu and Manasa. Vidhi is ritual. Japa is recitation of a Mantra. Upamsu is Japa done in a whisper. Of the four kinds? JnanaYajna or the wisdomsacrifice comes under Manasa and is? therefore? the highest. The Gita is eulogised as a JnanaYajna. He who studies this scripture with faith and devotion will attain the fruit that is eal to that of performing JnanaYajna or meditation on a deity and the like.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.70 And he who will study this sacred conversation between us two, which is conducive to virtue, by him I shall be adored through the Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. This is My judgement.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.70 He who will study this spiritual discourse of ours, I assure thee, he shall thereby worship Me at the altar of Wisdom.
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)
Related verses
Concepts
YajnaDharma
Whoever studies this sacred conversation between us — by him I am worshipped through sacrifice of knowledge.
Practical Applications
  • Treat your reading of the Gītā as a yajña — knowledge-sacrifice.
  • Don't read it like ordinary literature.
  • Honor the conversation.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I been reading like ordinary literature?
  • What sacramental shift is offered?

A scholar of sacred texts who studies the Gītā with attentive devotion offers a jñāna-yajña — the fire of his attention is itself the sacrificial flame. The text is the altar; the study is the oblation; the Lord receives the offering as worship.

📝 My note

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