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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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Krishna’s natureChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge
4.84.10

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.9

Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refuge

जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।

त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥ ९ ॥

janma karma ca me divyam

evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ

tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma

naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

Translation

One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Knowing Kṛṣṇa Ends Rebirth

  1. 1One who truly knows Kṛṣṇa’s divine appearance and activities reaches His eternal abode after death, without taking birth here again.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a faithful devotee who understands Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is freed from material bondage.
  3. 3Develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness with faith and knowledge, accepting His teachings rather than relying on speculation.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 4, Transcendental Knowledge: divine descent, krishna’s nature and refuge.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Recognize Kṛṣṇa as the source of all.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.9 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 4 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 4.5Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refugeBG 4.6Divine descent, Krishna’s nature and refugeBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 4.9 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.