Bhagavad-gītā 18.20
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते।अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम्।।18.20।।
sarva-bhūteṣhu yenaikaṁ bhāvam avyayam īkṣhate avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣhu taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam
That by which the one indestructible Substance is seen in all beings, inseparate in the separated, know that knowledge to be Sâttvika.
English rendering by Swami Swarupananda. Public domain first edition, 1909.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| sarva-bhūteṣhu | within all living beings |
| yena | by which |
| ekam | one |
| bhāvam | nature |
| avyayam | imperishable |
| īkṣhate | one sees |
| avibhaktam | undivided |
| vibhakteṣhu | in diversity |
| tat | that |
| jñānam | knowledge |
| viddhi | understand |
| sāttvikam | in the mode of goodness |
Use the word map to follow the relation among sarva-bhūteṣhu (within all living beings), avibhaktam (undivided), and sāttvikam (in the mode of goodness). Ask what changes between the first and last term, and how that movement contributes to freedom through discernment and surrender. State the connection in your own words, then check it against Bhagavad-gita 18.20.
Original school explanation. Written independently from the Sanskrit word map. It is not a quotation, translation, or summary of a named modern commentary. Chapter lens: Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
Five careful reading routes
The cards below are reading references, not claims about what an acharya says in this verse. Modern wording stays inside authorized editions. Classical commentary will appear only after an independent translation has passed scholarly and rights review.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
That by which the one indestructible Substance is seen in all beings, inseparate in the separated, know that knowledge to be Sâttvika
- 2
sarva-bhūteṣhu: within all living beings
- 3
avibhaktam: undivided
Look, link, cover, teach
Look
Picture freedom through surrender.
Link
Use the line starts: sarva-bhūteṣhu yenaikaṁ / avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣhu.
Cover
Hide the verse and rebuild one line at a time.
Teach
Explain the flow to another person without looking.
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A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita As It IsFor Bhagavad-gita 18.20, consult the authorized BBT edition. No purport, translation, or author-attributed summary is reproduced here.
Find the authorized editionBhaktivinoda Thakura
Rasika-ranjanaA verified independent rendering for Bhagavad-gita 18.20 has not yet passed scholarly and rights review. Modern translations are not copied here.
Independent rendering pending reviewBaladeva Vidyabhushana
Gita-bhushana-bhashyaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 18.20 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewVishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Sarartha-varshini-tikaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 18.20 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewOther Gaudiya acharyas
Authorized Gaudiya editionsFor Bhagavad-gita 18.20, later teachers remain a further-reading route. Their wording and distinctive teaching structures require permission or a separate rights review.
Use an authorized edition