Verse 4.1
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवानुवाच। इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्। विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्।।
Transliteration (IAST)
śrī bhagavān uvāca imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam vivasvān manave prāha manur ikṣvākave 'bravīt
Word-by-Word Meanings
vivasvate-to the sun-god Vivasvān
yogam-the science of yoga
proktavān-instructed
avyayam-imperishable
manave-to Manu
ikṣvākave-to King Ikṣvāku
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god Vivasvān, Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, and Manu taught it to Ikṣvāku.
Commentary
Krishna establishes the ancient lineage of this knowledge, tracing it back to the beginning of creation. This verse introduces the concept of paramparā (disciplic succession) as the means of preserving transcendental knowledge. The yoga referred to here is the same knowledge being imparted to Arjuna.
Themes
jnanatimedharma