adhyeṣyate ca ya imaḿ
dharmyaḿ saḿvādam āvayoḥ
jñāna-yajñena tenāham
iṣṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 18.70
And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his intelligence.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Srila Prabhupada.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
This verse speaks of the results of studying this scripture.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
18.70 Ca, and; even he yah, who; adhyesyate, will study; imam, this; samvadam, conversation, the text in the form of a dialogue; between avayoh, us two; which is dharmyam, conducive to virtue, not divorced from virtue; tena, by him; this will be accomplished through that study; aham, I; syam, shall be; istah, adored; jnana-yajnena, through the Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Iti, this is me, My; matih, judgement. As compared with the various sacrifices, viz rituals, loud prayer, prayer uttered in a low voice and mental prayer, the Sacrifice in the from of Knowledge is the best [See 4.33.] because it is mental. Hence, the study of the scripture Gita is praised as that Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Or, this (verse) may merely be a judgement about the result. The idea is that the result of the study is comparable to the result of the Sacrifice in the form of the knowledge of gods and others. Now, this is the reward for the hearer:
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The result that manifests to one who studies Srimad Bhagavad-Gita is being revealed by Lord Krishna. One who sings this holy and blessed divine discourse which is overflowing with righteousness in the anustap meter or chants its verses to oneself or to others contemplating will be considered by Lord Krishna as jnana yagnena or propitiation and worship directly to Him and is the best of all worship. Even if someone is reciting the chapters and verses without fully understanding the meaning; yet hearing it from inside the etheric heart as paramatma the Supreme Soul the Supreme Lord will accept it as pure propitiation and worship of Him. Just as in everyday life if someone calls out one’s name, one will go to that person and enquire what they want even if hardly known. In the same way Lord Krishna approaches that someone who chants or sings the verses of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. This is not mere conjecture. It has been proven with evidence with the story of Ajamila who called out to his son Narayana which happens also to be a name of the Supreme Lord at the moment of death and pleasing the servants of the Supreme Lord was saved from a hellish existence. So there should be no doubt about this.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Now Lord Krishna declares that whoever studies Srimad Bhagavad-Gita under the tutelage of the spiritual preceptor and learns its purport from him; by this act Lord Krishna accepts it as propitiation to Him if the form of wisdom as He previously affirmed in chapter 4, verse 28 with the words svadhyaya-jnana-yajnah ca or propitiation by study of the Vedic scriptures. So worship of the Supreme Lord is accomplished by study and discussion of the purports, yet His devotee who simply chants or sings only the verses, because they are faithfully eulogising Him they are pleasing Him and are dearmost due to aurally hearing from themselves of His gloriesl. Just as a common person may sing a song extolling the virtues of some great personality; such a great personality hearing it will be come most pleased and that common person will become dear to them. So in this way Lord Krishna is affirming that just by reciting the verses of Srimad Bhagavad- Gita one will become dear to Him as one will be glorifying Him by doing so.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
18.70 Ca, and; even he yah, who; adhyesyate, will study; imam, this; samvadam, conversation, the text in the form of a dialogue; between avayoh, us two; which is dharmyam, conducive to virtue, not divorced from virtue; tena, by him; this will be accomplished through that study; aham, I; syam, shall be; istah, adored; jnana-yajnena, through the Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Iti, this is me, My; matih, judgement. As compared with the various sacrifices, viz rituals, loud prayer, prayer uttered in a low voice and mental prayer, the Sacrifice in the from of Knowledge is the best [See 4.33.] because it is mental. Hence, the study of the scripture Gita is praised as that Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge. Or, this (verse) may merely be a judgement about the result. The idea is that the result of the study is comparable to the result of the Sacrifice in the form of the knowledge of gods and others. Now, this is the reward for the hearer:
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
18.68-72 Ya idam etc. upto Dhananjaya. The very act of explaining this among My devotees is itself an act of cultivating devotion towards Me. Whosoever shall declare etc : Whosoever directs the mind [of the devotees] by face to face method, following the best procedure prescribed in the scriptures; i.e., he who shall impart [this knowledge] – he becomes one with Me. This is an injunction [concerning the result] and not a sentence of praise. Likewise is [the case] in other places also.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
adhyesyate ca ya imam
dharmyam samvadam avayoh
jñana-yajñena tenaham
istah syam iti me matih
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
adhyeṣyate — will study; ca — also; yaḥ — he who; imam — this; dharmyam — sacred; saḿvādam — conversation; āvayoḥ — of ours; jñāna — of knowledge; yajñena — by the sacrifice; tena — by him; aham — I; iṣṭaḥ — worshiped; syām — shall be; iti — thus; me — My; matiḥ — opinion.
