श्री भगवानुवाच
परं भूयः प्रवक्ष्यामि ज्ञानानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम्।
यज्ज्ञात्वा मुनयः सर्वे परां सिद्धिमितो गताः।।14.1।।
।।14.1।।श्रीभगवान् बोले -- सम्पूर्ण ज्ञानोंमें उत्तम और पर ज्ञानको मैं फिर कहूँगा? जिसको जानकर सबकेसब मुनिलोग इस संसारसे मुक्त होकर परमसिद्धिको प्राप्त हो गये हैं।
In the previous chapter the Supreme Lord Krishna explained that by comprehending the factual relationships of purusa or the Supreme Being as paramatma the all pervading supreme soul, the atma or the immortal soul and prakriti or the material substratum pervading physical existence. Along with imbibing the virtues beginning in verse 8 such as humilty and reverence and also by bhaktir avyabhicarini or exclusive devotion to the Supreme Lord as given in verse 11 which awards His grace. By doing so one would achieve moksa or freedom from material existence. Now in this chapter the Lord Krishna propounds how the gunas or three modes of sattva guna or mode of goodness, raja guna or mode of passion and tama guna or mode of ignorance all individually and conjointly cause the jiva or embodied being to be bound to samsara the perpetual cycle of birth and death and gives the remedy by which one may be redeemed and delivered therefrom. The word pravaksyami means I will declare. What will Lord Krishna declare? He will declare jnananam jnanam uttamam meaning the topmost knowledge and wisdom. What knowledge and wisdom is this? Knowledge of the three gunas whose qualities directly influence the combination of prakriti and purusa effected as the jiva or embodied being. What wisdom is this? Wisdom that surpasses all that has previously been told about this combination. The munis are the great sages and seers or munayah who possessing this wisdom in deep meditation achieve self-realisation and release from samsara ascending to the supreme state. The excellence of this wisdom is extolled next.
