Sanskrit
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते । प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः ॥ १७ ॥
teṣāṃ jñānī nityayukta ekabhaktir viśiṣyate priyo hi jñānino'tyartham ahaṃ sa ca mama priyaḥ
Translation
Of these the wise, constantly harmonised, worshipping the One, is the best; I am supremely dear to the wise, and he is dear to Me.
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
Of the four types named in verse 16, the wise (jñānī) is singled out as best, on grounds that are notably reciprocal rather than merit-based: “I am supremely dear to the wise, and he is dear to Me.” The relationship described is mutual attachment, not a reward Krishna dispenses from above — a detail verse 18 pushes even further. Priyo hi jñānino ‘tyartham, ahaṃ sa ca mama priyaḥ — the affection runs both ways. This is bhakti stated as a bond, not a transaction; BG 12.13–BG 12.20 will list exactly which devotees are “dear.””
Study deeper
Word by word
- teṣāṃ jñānī nityayuktaतेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त
- of these, the wise, ever steadfast (teṣām + jñānī + nitya-yuktaḥ)
- ekabhaktir viśiṣyateएकभक्तिः विशिष्यते
- of single-minded devotion, excels (eka-bhaktiḥ + viśiṣyate)
- priyo hi jñānino'tyarthamप्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थं
- for I am exceedingly dear to the wise (priyaḥ + hi + jñāninaḥ + atyartham)
- ahaṃ sa ca mama priyaḥअहं स च मम प्रियः
- and he is dear to Me (aham + saḥ + ca + mama + priyaḥ)
Commentary
Site Commentary
The sentence describing the relationship is built symmetrically on purpose: I am dear to him, and he is dear to Me, the same claim made twice in mirrored order rather than stated once and left one-directional. The grammar performs the mutuality it’s describing — this isn’t a superior conferring approval downward, it’s a sentence structured so that neither side of the relationship gets to come first.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- In your closest relationships, notice whether the language you use makes room for genuine mutuality — both sides mattering equally — or quietly puts one side first by default. How you phrase the connection can shape whether it actually functions as one.
Professional
- When describing a strong working relationship with a colleague or mentor, notice whether your language casts it as one-directional (them helping you) or genuinely mutual. Framing it as reciprocal, out loud, tends to make the collaboration actually function that way.
Family & Social
- Say the mutual version out loud in your closest relationships — not just 'they matter to me' but 'we matter to each other,' stated symmetrically. Naming a bond as reciprocal, in so many words, is part of what keeps it reciprocal in practice.
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