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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.109.12

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.11

Delusion concerning Krishna’s true nature

अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् ।

परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ॥ ११ ॥

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā

mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam

paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto

mama bhūta-maheśvaram

Translation

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Kṛṣṇa Is the Supreme Lord

  1. 1Fools mock Kṛṣṇa when He appears in human form, not knowing His nature as the Supreme Lord of all.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is no ordinary man: His body is nonmaterial, eternal, blissful and full of knowledge.
  3. 3Accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord, surrender to Him and serve Him with devotion.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 9, The Most Confidential Knowledge: delusion concerning krishna’s true nature.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.11 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 9 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.12Delusion concerning Krishna’s true natureBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā

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

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 9.11 — 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.