The Supreme Lord says: O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen once more to My supreme word, which I shall speak to you who are dear to Me, for your benefit.
Synthesis
Krishna reopens the teaching with deep affection, signaling that what follows is personal revelation offered out of love. Shankaracharya emphasizes that the infinite must be heard repeatedly before it penetrates. Ramanujacharya highlights God's spontaneous love in desiring Arjuna's welfare. Madhva notes that the infinite nature of God can never be exhausted in a single telling. Abhinavagupta reads the supreme word as a vibratory transmission of divine consciousness through the teacher-student bond. Vallabha treasures 'prīyamāṇāya' as revealing that divine knowledge flows through the channel of prema. Tilak reads it as establishing that spiritual knowledge must be revisited and deepened through repeated engagement. Vivekananda affirms that the supreme knowledge is offered out of love to anyone ready to receive it. The Bhakti tradition sees proof that God delights in sharing Himself. Across all eight traditions, this verse establishes that the highest knowledge is transmitted through a bond of love — not as cold instruction but as intimate, compassionate revelation from the divine heart to the devoted soul.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara emphasizes that Krishna speaks again because Arjuna has not yet fully grasped the infinite nature of the Supreme. The 'supreme word' points to the non-dual reality that underlies all manifestations — knowledge that must be heard repeatedly before it penetrates.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
The deepest truths often need to be heard more than once. Be willing to revisit foundational wisdom — each return brings new depth and understanding that was impossible before.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"Why do I need to hear the same wisdom again and again?"
- ?"How do I stay open to learning what I think I already know?"
- ?"What makes me ready to receive deeper teachings?"
- ?"How do I find a teacher who truly cares about my growth?"