Accessibility should not become disrespect.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् |परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् ||९-११||
avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam . paraṃ bhāvamajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram ||9-11||
Use this verse to deepen reverence for Krishna.
Meaning
The deluded disregard Me when I appear in human form, not knowing My supreme nature as the great Lord of beings.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Do not reduce Krishna to an ordinary human figure.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Krishna’s human-like form makes Him accessible, but the deluded miss His divine nature. Devotion needs both closeness and reverence.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna turns to a human failing: the deluded (mudha) see only his outward human form and so look down on him, blind to his para-bhava, the supreme reality he truly is — the maheshvara, great Lord of all beings. They mistake the visible garment for the wearer, the limited appearance for the limitless presence within.
The teaching extends beyond Krishna's own person. We habitually judge by surfaces, dismissing the sacred when it comes clothed in the ordinary. The Divine often appears in humble, unremarkable forms — and our cleverness can blind us to it.
Reverence requires looking past appearance to essence. To honour the deeper reality behind every form, especially the most modest, is the mark of wisdom; to scorn it for its plain exterior is the mark of delusion.
In daily life
Relate to Krishna lovingly, but remember His supreme nature.
A person may see Krishna as friend while still honoring Him as Lord.
Try this today
Meditate on Krishna as both friend and Lord.
I honor Krishna’s accessible and supreme nature.Reflect
Do I see Krishna only as story or as living Divine?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘मानुषीं तनुम् आश्रितम्’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on reverence, in other chapters
- Verse 10.2The Divine source of all things cannot be fully grasped by the mind — true knowledge begins in humble reverence.
- Verse 11.14 · SanjayaA true encounter with the Divine moves the whole being, drawing us naturally into reverence and awe.
- Verse 18.67Deep spiritual truth bears fruit only in a heart that is sincere, humble, and willing to listen.
- Verse 7.15What closes the heart to the Divine is not fate but a chosen pride — and humility is the first crack of light.
Swipe left for 9.12 · Ego can waste knowledge and effort.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 9.11
Who says Bhagavad Gita 9.11, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 9.11, in Chapter 9, Raja Vidya Yoga (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 9.11 mean?
The deluded disregard Me when I appear in human form, not knowing My supreme nature as the great Lord of beings. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 9.11 for daily life?
Relate to Krishna lovingly, but remember His supreme nature. A person may see Krishna as friend while still honoring Him as Lord.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 9.11 mean?
अवजानन्ति — disregard / despise; माम् — Me; मूढाः — the deluded / foolish; मानुषीं तनुम् आश्रितम् — taking refuge in a human form; परं भावम् — supreme nature / higher being.
Where does verse 9.11 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 11 of 34 in Chapter 9, Raja Vidya Yoga. The next verse is 9.12.