Bhagavad Gita 4.1
Spoken by Krishna ☆ Key verse · Verse 1 of 42
श्रीभगवानुवाच । इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् । विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavān aham avyayam | vivasvān manave prāha manur ikṣvākave 'bravīt ||
I taught this imperishable yoga to the sun-god at the dawn of time — it has been passed down through kings ever since.
Word by word (3)
- imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavān aham avyayam
- — I declared this imperishable yoga to Vivasvān (the sun-god) · Imam = this (the yoga just taught in Ch.2-3). Vivasvate = to Vivasvān (dative — the solar deity, progenitor of the solar dynasty). Proktavān = I declared, I taught (past active participle of pra+vac). Aham = I (Krishna). Avyayam = imperishable (a+vyaya = not subject to decay). Krishna opens Ch.4 by placing the just-completed karma-yoga teaching in cosmic time: this yoga is not new — it was taught at the very beginning of creation.
- vivasvān manave prāha
- — Vivasvān taught it to Manu · Vivasvān = the sun-god (source of light and righteous order). Manave = to Manu (progenitor of humanity — manu is the root of 'man'). Prāha = taught, declared (from pra+āha, aorist of vac). The transmission chain descends: from the divine (Vivasvān) to the human ancestor (Manu).
- manuḥ ikṣvākave abravīt
- — Manu taught it to Ikṣvāku · Manu = the progenitor of humanity (Manu Vaivasvata, the seventh Manu). Ikṣvākave = to Ikṣvāku (dative — founder of the Solar dynasty, ancestor of Rāma). Abravīt = he said, he taught. The chain completes: Krishna → Vivasvān → Manu → Ikṣvāku → the line of kings. This yoga has been the secret of righteous rulership since the beginning of civilization.
The Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvān (the sun-god). Vivasvān taught it to Manu (the progenitor of humanity). Manu taught it to Ikṣvāku (founder of the royal solar dynasty).
A modern analogy
The greatest truths are not invented — they are remembered and transmitted. A master teacher passes wisdom to a student, who passes it on, who passes it on. The chain matters: what you are learning has been tested across generations, not invented yesterday. This verse establishes karma-yoga as time-tested, not theoretical.
Take with you
- Avyayam — imperishable. This yoga does not become obsolete. Its principles are not cultural or historical but structural.
- The transmission chain (Krishna → Vivasvān → Manu → Ikṣvāku → kings) places wisdom inside history, not above it.
- What you are receiving now is the same transmission — adapted in language, unchanged in essence.
- This opening verse begins Ch.4 by giving the karma-yoga of Ch.3 its deepest credentials: it is ancient, tested, royal, cosmic.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
The Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvat; Vivasvat taught it to Manu; Manu told it to Ikshvaku. [1]
The Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvat; Vivasvat taught it to Manu; Manu told it to Ikshvaku. [4]
The Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable devotion to Vivaswat; Vivaswat taught it to Manu, and Manu to Ikshwaku. [6]
I taught this deathless Yoga to Vivaswat, Vivaswat to Manu, and Manu made It known to Ikshwaku. [7]
The Blessed Lord said: I proclaimed this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvat; Vivasvat declared it to Manu; Manu told it to Ikshvaku. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Royal sages received this yoga through succession — but vast time destroyed it. That is why it must be re-taught.
I give you this ancient yoga today because you are My devotee and friend — this is the supreme secret.
Royal knowledge, royal secret — supreme purifier, directly known, easy to practice, of imperishable nature.
Intellect, wisdom, patience, truth, calm, restraint, joy, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness — all arise from Me.
Sattva-abiders go upward; rajasic dwell in the middle; tamas-abiders sink downward — the cosmic gradient.
The deluded see only the body's states — birth, life, experience; the jñāna-eyed see the jīva behind all three.
Verse 1 of 42 · back to Chapter 4