Bhagavad Gita · Jnana Vijnana YogaChapter 7, Shloka 3 (7.3)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद् यतति सिद्धये
यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
॥ 7.3 ॥
manuṣyāṇāṃ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatāmapi siddhānāṃ kaścinmāṃ vetti tattvataḥ
Translation
"Among thousands of human beings, one strives for perfection; and even among the perfected who strive, only one knows me in truth."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. Siddhā eva hi te ye mokṣāya yatante — those who strive for liberation are themselves called "perfected"; even among them kaścid eva … tattvataḥ yathāvat — only one knows truly.
Acharya Ramanuja — rarity at three levels. Manuṣyāḥ śāstrādhikāra-yogyāḥ — among thousands of human beings qualified for the scriptures, someone strives towards perfection; among thousands of such, someone māṃ viditvā mattaḥ siddhaye yatate — knowing me, seeks perfection from me; and mad-vidāṃ sahasreṣu tattvato yathāvat-sthitaṃ māṃ vetti na kaścid — even among thousands who know me, there is no one who knows me fully as I truly am. Evidence: 7.19 sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ, 7.26 māṃ tu veda na kaścana.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.