1
Raja-Vidya:
The King of Knowledge
sri bhagavan uvaca
idam tu te guhyatamam
pravaksyamy anasuyave
Jiianam vijfiana-sahitam
yaj jhatva moksyase ’Subhat
“The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjuna, because
you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you
this most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be
relieved of the miseries of material existence.” (Bg.
9.1)

The opening words of the Ninth Chapter of
Bhagavad-gita indicate that the Supreme Godhead is
speaking. Here Sri Krsna is referred to as Bhagavan.
Bhaga means opulences, and van means one who
possesses. We have some conception of God, but in
the Vedic literature there are definite descriptions
and definitions of what is meant by God, and what
is meant is described in one word—Bhagavan.
Bhagavan possesses all opulences, the totality of
knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame and re-
nunciation. When we find someone who possesses
these opulences in full, we are to know that he is
God. There are many rich, wise, famous, beautiful
and powerful men, but no one man can claim to
possess all of these opulences. Only Krsna claims to
possess them in totality.
