Chapter 4 · Knowledge and the renunciation of action
Bhagavad Gita 4.34
Learn it by humility, enquiry and service.
Shri Bhagavan
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥
tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā / upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ
Learn this by bowing down, by asking questions, and by service. Those who know, who see things as they are, will teach that knowledge to you.
हिंदी · इसे प्रणाम करके, प्रश्न पूछकर और सेवा के द्वारा जानो। जो ज्ञानी हैं और तत्त्व को देखते हैं, वे तुम्हें वह ज्ञान सिखाएँगे।
What it means
Learn it by humility, enquiry and service.
Learn that knowledge by approaching those who have seen the truth — with reverence, with sincere questions, and with service. They will teach you.
This is the Trust’s own reading, written for this site. The verse above it is the text.
Where this verse stands
Knowledge, teacher and doubt
Chapter 44.33–42
Knowledge is praised, the teacher approached through humility/inquiry/service, and doubt cut by discernment.
This verse develops the opening claim.
How to approach knowledge
Humility, inquiry and service belong together. Inquiry is not forbidden; arrogance is not inquiry. The verse supports a disciplined relationship to a teacher rather than passive obedience.
Read deeper · Read with 2.7, 4.39–42, 13.7–11 and 18.67–71.
Hansi Gita Bhawan Trust · The Gita for Life
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.34 mean?
Learn it by humility, enquiry and service. Learn that knowledge by approaching those who have seen the truth — with reverence, with sincere questions, and with service. They will teach you.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.34?
Shri Bhagavan. The speaker is taken from the text’s own उवाच line as transcribed, not inferred from the verse number.