Bhagavad Gita 18.63

iti te jñānam ākhyātaḿ
guhyād guhya-taraḿ mayā
vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa
yathecchasi tathā kuru

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 18.63

Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.

Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:

The Lord has already explained to Arjuna the knowledge of brahma-bhuta. One who is in the brahma-bhuta condition is joyful; he never laments, nor does he desire anything. That is due to confidential knowledge. Krishna also discloses knowledge of the Supersoul. This is also Brahman knowledge, knowledge of Brahman, but it is superior.

0Here the words yathecchasi tatha kuru—“As you like, you may act”—indicate that God does not interfere with the little independence of the living entity. In Bhagavad-gita, the Lord has explained in all respects how one can elevate his living condition. The best advice imparted to Arjuna is to surrender unto the Supersoul seated within his heart. By right discrimination, one should agree to act according to the order of the Supersoul. That will help one become situated constantly in Krishna consciousness, the highest perfectional stage of human life. Arjuna is being directly ordered by the Personality of Godhead to fight. Surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is in the best interest of the living entities. It is not for the interest of the Supreme. Before surrendering, one is free to deliberate on this subject as far as the intelligence goes; that is the best way to accept the instruction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such instruction comes also through the spiritual master, the bona fide representative of Krishna.

Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:

Here the Lord concludes the whole subject of Gita.

Jnana or knowledge consists of karma yoga, astanga yoga and jnana yoga. The word jnana means that by which one knows. Thus jnana refers to a process, in this case scriptures, which produce knowledge of these sadhanas.

I have revealed a scripture, jnana, which is more secret than those scriptures (guhyad guhyataram), a process that has not been revealed in the scriptures written by authors such as Vasista, Badarayana or Narada.

Another meaning is: In relation to their omniscience, I am infinite. Thus they cannot understand the knowledge because of its most confidential nature. I also did not teach them at all because of its intense confidential nature.

Considering this thoroughly (asesena), as is suitable to your taste, do what you want to do. Thus, the last six chapters concerning jnana have been completed. These three groups of six chapters, the Gita, the crown jewel of all knowledge, are the box containing the most valuable secret treasure of bhakti. The first six chapters, concernng karma, are the lower covering made of gold. The last six chapters, concerning jnana, are the lid made of gold and studded with jewels. Within the middle six chapters, resting within the container and the lid, shines the most excellent jewel of bhakti, more valuable than anything in the three worlds, which brings Krishna under control. Bhakti’s servants consisting of two verses (65 and 66) of sixty-four syllables placed in the lid of the box (last six chapters) should also be understood to be pure.

Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:

18.63 Thus, in this manner, has been set forth everything that is to be acquired by those aspirants for release — the mystery of mysteries, concerning Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Reflecting on it fully, do what you wish to do according to your qualification — i.e., follow Karma Yoga, or Jnana Yoga or Bhakti Yoga according to your liking. Such is the meaning.

Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:

Concluding the essential teachings of the entire Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, the Supreme Lord Krishna declares that the most confidential and esoteric wisdom has been disclosed by Him in this treatise revealing how the jiva or embodied being attains eternal communion with the Supreme Lord which is the purpose and goal of human existence. This divine discourse was disclosed out of compassion and benevolence to all creation by Lord Krishna who is omniscient and extremely gracious. There is no knowledge more beneficial and valuable than Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. There is no knowledge higher or superior to Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. It should be well reflected upon and deeply contemplated and then one should act accordingly.

Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:

This empirical statement tat prasadat means by His Grace. It should be understood that Lord Krishna is referring to His Grace as that of any of His avatars or incarnations and expansions as authorised in Vedic scriptures. They all as a part of Lord Krishna abide as paramatma the supreme soul within the heart of all jivas or embodied beings. Any part of the whole is imbued with the whole. So Lord Krishna’s three aspects of the brahman the spiritual substratum pervading all existence, paramatma and bhagavan which is His original eternal two armed spiritual form which includes all of His avatars in many different forms. So this verse should be understood empirically as well. Clarifying this point further an example is given from Mahabharata that states: Dronam prati Bhima vacanavat which means: Bhima said that Drona was a father to Him. Bhima’s actual father was King Pandu but he spoke empirically to illustrate that the affection he received from Drona was like from a father. This is the gist of it.

Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:

Preparing to bestow His Grace, Lord Krishna extols the teachings of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita that have been imparted and concluded the instructions with a summary of what He has revealed thus far regarding renunciation, devotion, action and knowledge. Now He gives the instruction to contemplate and reflect upon the three paths of karma yoga or facilitating communion with the Supreme Lord by action, bhakti yoga or facilitating communion with the Supreme Lord by exclusive loving devotion and jnana yoga or facilitating communion with the Supreme Lord by knowledge. After examining the teachings thoroughly and considereing carefully resolve accordingly the manner in which they are to be implemented into reality.

Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:

18.63 Te, to you; akhyatam, has been imparted, spoken of; maya, by Me who am the omniscient God; iti, this; jnanam, knowledge; which is guhyataram, more secret; guhyat, than any secret-i.e. it is extremely profound, mystical. Vimrsya, pondering over, contemplating on; etat, this, the Scripture as imparted; asesena, as a whole, and also on all the subjects dealt with; kuru, do; yatha icchasi tatha, as you like. ‘Once again, hear what is beng said by Me:’

Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:

18.61-62 Isvarah etc. Tam eva etc. This Lord, the Supreme Self, must be taken hold of as refuge. When that Supreme Ruler, the [real] Agent-of-all-actions, the [real] Knower, the very Self of your own, is reflected upon, there (in the heart) the [effects of] actions do not enjoy any locus standi. Indeed, the deer-calves which are of wavering mind [by nature] and are noted only for their power of running away to escape, do not take recourse to their skill in pursuing freely their [usual] activities while there dwells in the [nearby] cave a loin-calf, the glory of whose valour has been made evident by the accessories in the form of the heaps of pearls scattered from the elephants’ temples broken upon with the very sharp edges of his (lion-calf’s) excellent claws. By the cocluding statement that commences ‘To Him alone you must go for refuge’ and [runs] as ‘Through My Grace etc.’, the Bhagavat indicates the Lord Supreme Self, and Vasudeva krsna to be identical.18.63 Iti te etc. : The [path of] wisdom has been taught to you. It is a better secret than the secret literature i.e., the last portion of the Vedas (the Upanisads), as it reveals the supreme Non-duality (Advaita-philosophy). Comprehend it fully and then : Deliberate on the purport of it and then. The purport has been, no doubt, elucidated by us by taking-by-horn-method (directly) whenever occasion arose. Yet, a clear reflection of the entire subject matter is shown here. Because it is the choicest one, the mind is never satisfied, when it is being elucidated and listened to. The most secret thing is being determined here. The method by which that is known, you must listen to now – so He says :-

Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:

iti te jñanam akhyatam
guhyad guhya-taram maya
vimrsyaitad asesena
yathecchasi tatha kuru

Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:

iti — thus; te — unto you; jñānam — knowledge; ākhyātam — described; guhyāt — than confidential; guhya-taram — still more confidential; mayā — by Me; vimṛśya — deliberating; etat — on this; aśeṣeṇa — fully; yathā — as; icchasi — you like; tathā — that; kuru — perform.