SanskritGita shlokas: knowledge, learning and speech
The fourth chapter praises knowledge above every other offering, and says how it is to be won: from a teacher, through humility, questions and service. Two of its lines are so widely used as mottos by schools and universities that many people know them without knowing where they come from.
To these we have added two verses from elsewhere that belong with them. One (5.18) describes the fruit of knowledge: seeing every being as equal. The other (17.15) is about speech, which is how knowledge is shared: it should be true, kind, helpful and hurt no one. Together the six make a small charter for students and teachers.
The Sanskrit text is as transcribed on Sanskrit Wikisource (copied by program on 12 November 2026), and has not yet been compared with a printed edition; please check before reciting or printing. The meanings and notes are our own plain rendering. See About.
Bhagavad Gita 4.34
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥
tadviddhi pranipātena pariprashnena sevayā.
upadekshyanti te jnānam jnāninastattvadarshinah.
Hindiउस ज्ञान को तुम तत्त्वदर्शी ज्ञानियों के पास जाकर, उन्हें प्रणाम करके, उनसे प्रश्न पूछकर और उनकी सेवा करके जानो। वे तुम्हें ज्ञान का उपदेश देंगे।
EnglishLearn that knowledge by bowing down, by asking questions and by service. The wise, who have seen the truth, will teach it to you.
NoteThree things asked of a student: humility (pranipata), honest questioning (pariprashna) and service (seva). Note that questioning is required, not forbidden.
Bhagavad Gita 4.37
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन ।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥
yathaidhāmsi samiddho'gnirbhasmasātkurute'rjuna.
jnānāgnih sarvakarmāni bhasmasātkurute tathā.
Hindiहे अर्जुन, जैसे प्रज्वलित अग्नि ईंधन को भस्म कर देती है, वैसे ही ज्ञान की अग्नि सब कर्मों को भस्म कर देती है।
EnglishAs a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all actions to ashes.
NoteA simile built on a compound: "jnana-agni", the fire of knowledge. "Actions" here means the binding results of past actions.
Bhagavad Gita 4.38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥
na hi jnānena sadrisham pavitramiha vidyate.
tatsvayam yogasamsiddhah kālenātmani vindati.
Hindiइस संसार में ज्ञान के समान पवित्र करने वाला कुछ भी नहीं है। योग में सिद्ध हुआ मनुष्य समय आने पर उस ज्ञान को अपने आप अपने भीतर पा लेता है।
EnglishNothing in this world purifies like knowledge. One who is perfected in yoga finds it within the self in the course of time.
NoteThe first line, "na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitram iha vidyate", is used as a motto by several Indian schools and universities.
Bhagavad Gita 4.39
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥
shraddhāvānllabhate jnānam tatparah samyatendriyah.
jnānam labdhvā parām shāntimachirenādhigachchhati.
Hindiश्रद्धावान, साधना में लगा हुआ और इंद्रियों को वश में रखने वाला मनुष्य ज्ञान पाता है, और ज्ञान पाकर वह शीघ्र ही परम शांति को प्राप्त हो जाता है।
EnglishThe one who has faith, who is devoted to it and who has mastered the senses gains knowledge; and having gained knowledge, soon reaches supreme peace.
Note"Shraddhavan labhate jnanam" is another line widely used as a motto: the person with faith and earnestness obtains knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita 5.18
विद्याविनयसंपन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि ।
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥
vidyāvinayasampanne brāhmane gavi hastini.
shuni chaiva shvapāke cha panditāh samadarshinah.
Hindiज्ञानी लोग विद्या और विनय से युक्त ब्राह्मण में, गाय में, हाथी में, कुत्ते में और चांडाल में भी समान दृष्टि रखते हैं।
EnglishThe wise look with an equal eye on a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste.
NoteA verse on equality of vision ("sama-darshana"): the wise see the same self in all beings, whatever rank the world gives them.
Bhagavad Gita 17.15
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥
anudvegakaram vākyam satyam priyahitam cha yat.
svādhyāyābhyasanam chaiva vānmayam tapa uchyate.
Hindiजो वाणी किसी को उद्विग्न न करे, जो सत्य, प्रिय और हितकारी हो, और साथ ही स्वाध्याय का अभ्यास: यह वाणी का तप कहलाता है।
EnglishSpeech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasant and helpful, together with the regular study of sacred texts: this is called the austerity of speech.
NoteThe Gita's four tests for speech: it should not hurt, it should be true, it should be pleasant, and it should do good. A fine verse for a morning assembly.
How to study these verses
Read the Sanskrit aloud first, slowly, using the roman line only if you need it. Then read the meaning, and go back to the Sanskrit to see which words carry it. To understand the verse word by word, follow the four steps in how to read a shloka; the case endings and the small unchanging words will do most of the work. Learning one verse a week by heart is a good pace.