Meditation needs practical anchors.
Arjuna speaks to Krishna
कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् |केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया ||१०-१७||
kathaṃ vidyāmahaṃ yogiṃstvāṃ sadā paricintayan . keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo.asi bhagavanmayā ||10-17||
Use this verse to build Krishna-remembrance cues.
Meaning
O Yogin, how may I know You by constant contemplation, and in what forms should I meditate on You?
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Arjuna asks how to meditate on Krishna throughout life.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
This verse turns theology into practice. Arjuna does not only want knowledge; he wants repeatable meditation cues.
Read the traditional commentary
Arjuna's question is intensely practical, the question of a true aspirant: 'How shall I know You, ever meditating upon You? In which forms and aspects (bhāveṣu) am I to think of You?' He does not want only philosophy; he wants a method of practice — a way to keep his mind fixed on the Divine throughout daily life.
This reveals the genuine seeker's instinct. Knowing that God pervades all things is not yet enough; the restless mind needs definite supports for contemplation. Where shall it rest its attention? By asking for specific 'aspects' on which to meditate, Arjuna invites Krishna to give the soul concrete handholds for the climb toward the Infinite — supports through which the formless can be approached step by step.
In daily life
Create simple cues that bring Krishna to mind.
Water, light, courage, and wisdom can become Krishna-remembrance cues.
Try this today
Set one cue: water, sunlight, prayer, or work start.
I remember Krishna through daily signs.Reflect
Which daily cue can help me remember Krishna?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘चिन्त्यः असि’ mean in this verse?
Krishna on practice, in other chapters
- Verse 5.27Withdraw the senses, steady your gaze, and balance the breath — these simple disciplines quiet the mind for inner realization.
- Verse 6.26Whenever the mind wanders, simply notice and gently bring it back — that patient return is the heart of practice.
- Verse 8.8A wandering mind is steadied not by force but by patient daily practice that gradually trains it to rest in the Divine.
- Verse 13.25There are many authentic paths to the Self — meditation, knowledge, and selfless action all lead home.
Swipe left for 10.18 · Sacred wisdom becomes nectar when the heart is open.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 10.17
Who says Bhagavad Gita 10.17, and to whom?
Arjuna speaks to Krishna in verse 10.17, in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga (Vibhuti Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.17 mean?
O Yogin, how may I know You by constant contemplation, and in what forms should I meditate on You? (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 10.17 for daily life?
Create simple cues that bring Krishna to mind. Water, light, courage, and wisdom can become Krishna-remembrance cues.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 10.17 mean?
कथं विद्याम् अहम् — how shall I know; योगिन् — O Yogin / master of yoga; त्वाम् — You; सदा परिचिन्तयन् — ever meditating; केषु केषु च भावेषु — in what various aspects or things.
Where does verse 10.17 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 17 of 42 in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga. The next verse is 10.18.