Chapter 18 Verse 55
Mokṣha Sanyās Yog
भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः।ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा विशते तदनन्तरम्।।18.55।।
bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaśh chāsmi tattvataḥ tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśhate tad-anantaram
Word Meanings
| bhaktyā | by loving devotion |
| mām | me |
| abhijānāti | one comes to know |
| yāvān | as much as |
| yaḥ cha asmi | as I am |
| tattvataḥ | in truth |
| tataḥ | then |
| mām | me |
| tattvataḥ | in truth |
| jñātvā | having known |
| viśhate | enters |
| tat-anantaram | thereafter |
Translation
By devotion, he knows Me in truth, who and what I am; then, having known Me in truth, he immediately enters into the Supreme.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse says that loving devotion (bhakti) is the way to truly know the Divine. When you love and worship sincerely, you begin to see who and what God really is, beyond ideas and images.
Once you know the Divine in truth, your sense of separation falls away. That real knowing leads at once to entering the Supreme — freedom from fear, confusion, and the pull of small attachments.
The verse stresses quality of understanding: not mere facts, but a living, heart-deep recognition that changes how you live.
Life Application
- Turn simple daily acts into devotion: a short prayer, mindful breath, or sincere service can deepen your sense of connection.
- Practice seeing the divine in people and events; this reduces anger and makes choices from love rather than fear.
- When confused, choose quiet presence and honest surrender over forcing control — trust that sincere devotion clarifies the heart.
Reflection Question
What small practice today would help me open my heart to a truer knowing of the Divine?