अर्जुन उवाच अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः।कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

• 4.1The Blessed Lord said, "I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he then told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.
• 4.2This, handed down in regular succession by the royal sages, was known. This Yoga, however, has been lost here over time, O Parantapa (burner of the foes).
• 4.3That same ancient yoga has been today taught to you by me, for you are my devotee and my friend; it is the supreme secret.

• 4.4Arjuna said, "Later was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am I to understand that Thou hast taught this Yoga from the beginning?"

• 4.5The Blessed Lord said, "Many births of Mine have passed, as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know them all, but thou knowest not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes)."
• 4.6Though I am unborn and of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, governing my own nature, I am born by my own Maya.
• 4.7Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and an increase of unrighteousness, O Arjuna, then I manifest Myself.
• 4.8For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.
• 4.9He who thus knows, in their true light, My divine birth and actions, having abandoned the body, is not born again; he comes to Me, O Arjuna.
• 4.10Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained My Being.
• 4.11In whatever way men approach Me, even so do I reward them; My path do men tread in all ways, O Arjuna.
• 4.12Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods; for success is quickly attained by men through action.
• 4.13The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; though I am the author of it, know Me as non-doer and immutable.
• 4.14Actions do not taint Me, nor do I have a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions.
• 4.15Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore.

arjunaḥ uvācha

Arjun said

aparam

later

bhavataḥ

your

janma

birth

param

prior

vivasvataḥ

Vivasvan, the sun-god

katham

how

etat

this

vijānīyām

am I to understand

tvam

you

ādau

in the beginning

proktavān

taught

iti

thus