Sanskrit
आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा । असितो देवलो व्यासः स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ॥ १३ ॥
āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarve devarṣir nāradas tathā asito devalo vyāsaḥ svayaṃ caiva bravīṣi me
Translation
All the Rishis have thus acclaimed Thee, as also the divine Rishi, Nârada; so Asita, Devala, and Vyâsa; and now Thou Thyself tellest it me.
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
Arjuna backs his own confession with an appeal to authority — Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa are named as prior witnesses who “have thus acclaimed” Krishna. It’s testimony layered on top of direct address, the same rhetorical move a student makes citing earlier teachers before stating a conclusion in their own words. Naming the transmitting sages — Nārada, Vyāsa, and the rest — places Arjuna’s conviction inside a lineage, not merely his own impression. Two of them (Nārada, Vyāsa) reappear as Krishna’s chosen examples at BG 10.26 and BG 10.37.
Study deeper
Word by word
- āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarveआहुस् त्वां ऋषयः सर्वे
- all the sages call you [thus] (āhuḥ + tvām + ṛṣayaḥ + sarve)
- devarṣir nāradas tathāदेवर्षिः नारदस् तथा
- the divine sage Nārada likewise (deva-ṛṣiḥ + nāradaḥ + tathā)
- asito devalo vyāsaḥअसितो देवलो व्यासः
- Asita, Devala, Vyāsa (asitaḥ + devalaḥ + vyāsaḥ)
- svayaṃ caiva bravīṣi meस्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे
- and you yourself tell me (svayam + ca + eva + bravīṣi + me)
Commentary
Site Commentary
Arjuna could simply have said “I believe you” and left it there — instead he names four prior authorities who said the same thing before adding his own voice. It’s a small but telling move: even someone standing in direct, personal conversation with the source still reaches for external corroboration before fully committing to his own conclusion.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- When you arrive at a strong personal conviction, it's fine to also check whether respected others independently reached the same place before you — this verse has Arjuna cite four prior sages before adding his own voice. Citing supporting testimony alongside direct experience is due diligence, not weakness.
Professional
- When presenting a recommendation you're confident in, cite prior evidence or respected voices that independently reached the same conclusion before stating your own — this verse layers named authorities under Arjuna's personal conviction. Corroboration strengthens a claim even when you don't strictly need the backup to believe it.
Family & Social
- When telling family about a big decision you believe in, mention others whose experience supports it before asserting your own conviction alone — this verse has Arjuna name four sages before speaking for himself. Shared testimony often makes a conclusion easier for others to accept, without making it less genuinely yours.
Ask yourself
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