Verse 11.54
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ||५४||
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaktyā tv ananyayā śakya aham evaṁ-vidho 'rjuna | jñātuṁ draṣṭuṁ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṁ ca parantapa ||54||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
But by exclusive devotion alone can I be known, seen in truth, and entered into, O Arjuna, O scorcher of foes.
Commentary
This verse provides the definitive answer to how the divine can be truly known. After negating all other means (verses 48, 53), Krishna declares that 'ananya-bhakti' (exclusive, undivided devotion) alone grants knowledge, vision, and union with the Divine. Ramanuja considers this the theological climax of the chapter - establishing bhakti as the supreme path. The three stages - knowing (jñātum), seeing (draṣṭum), and entering (praveṣṭum) - represent progressive levels of realization.