Verse 5
ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक् | ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः || ५ ||
Transliteration
ṛṣibhir bahudhā gītaṁ chandobhir vividhaiḥ pṛthak brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva hetumadbhir viniścitaiḥ
Synonyms
ṛṣibhiḥ—by the sages; bahudhā—in many ways; gītam—described; chandobhiḥ—by Vedic hymns; vividhaiḥ—various; pṛthak—separately; brahma-sūtra-padaiḥ—by the aphorisms of the Brahma-sutras; ca—also; eva—certainly; hetumadbhiḥ—with reasoning; viniścitaiḥ—conclusively.
Translation
“This has been sung by sages in many ways and in various Vedic hymns separately, and also in the well-reasoned and conclusive words of the Brahma-sutras.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Krishna situates His teaching within the entire tradition of Indian spiritual inquiry. The 'rishis in many ways' refers to the Upanishads; the 'various Vedic hymns' refers to the Rig Veda and others; the 'Brahma-sutra-padais' refers to Badarayana's systematic philosophical aphorisms. This verse is significant because it positions the Gita as the synthesis (prasthana-traya) of the entire Vedantic tradition — completing the triple canon of Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and the Gita itself.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
The teaching of the Field and its Knower is not new; it has been sung in countless ways across millennia because it addresses the deepest and most persistent human question. Study the tradition broadly — different teachers often illuminate the same truth from angles that will resonate with your particular mind. No single formulation exhausts the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 13.5 mean?
This has been sung by sages in many ways and in various Vedic hymns separately, and also in the well-reasoned and conclusive words of the Brahma-sutras.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.5?
ṛṣibhiḥ—by the sages; bahudhā—in many ways; gītam—described; chandobhiḥ—by Vedic hymns; vividhaiḥ—various; pṛthak—separately; brahma-sūtra-padaiḥ—by the aphorisms of the Brahma-sutras; ca—also; eva—certainly; hetumadbhiḥ—with reasoning; viniścitaiḥ—conclusively.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.5 in daily life?
The teaching of the Field and its Knower is not new; it has been sung in countless ways across millennia because it addresses the deepest and most persistent human question. Study the tradition broadly — different teachers often illuminate the same truth from angles that will resonate with your particular mind. No single formulation exhausts the truth.