Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 7.24

“The ignorant, unaware of My supreme, imperishable nature, think Me, the unmanifest, as having form.”
Key Teaching: Ignorant people mistake Krishna’s unmanifest nature for a mere form.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Jnana Vijnana Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that the ignorant, unaware of his supreme, imperishable, unmanifest nature, mistakenly think he has a mere form. This verse, building on 7.23, addresses Arjuna’s need for clarity on Krishna’s true nature (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies divine reality, and Jnana Vijnana Yoga, as he emphasizes supreme knowledge, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s confusion (1.28–46) reflects a limited view of Krishna. Krishna’s teaching contrasts with Duryodhana’s material misconceptions (1.3–11), urging Arjuna to recognize his unmanifest nature for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 7.23). Ignorance misinterprets the divine.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human tendency to limit the divine to form, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on his supremacy (7.7, 7.23). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to understand the unmanifest. The theme of Jnana Vijnana Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on divine realization.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its corrective clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s misconceptions, where true knowledge reveals the divine. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with divine awareness, aligning with liberation.