Verse 4.4
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
अर्जुन उवाच। अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः। कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति।।
Transliteration (IAST)
arjuna uvāca aparaṁ bhavato janma paraṁ janma vivasvataḥ katham etad vijānīyāṁ tvam ādau proktavān iti
Word-by-Word Meanings
aparam-recent/later
bhavataḥ-Your
janma-birth
param-prior/ancient
vivasvataḥ-of Vivasvān
vijānīyām-shall I understand
Translation
Arjuna said: The sun-god Vivasvān is senior by birth to You. How am I to understand that in the beginning You instructed this science to him?
Commentary
Arjuna's question is not born of doubt but serves a pedagogical purpose, prompting Krishna to reveal the nature of divine incarnation. This question distinguishes between ordinary birth and divine appearance. It sets up one of the most important theological revelations in the Gita.
Themes
jnanatimeatman