Thus, this most secret science has been taught by Me, O sinless one; on knowing this, a man becomes wise, and all his duties are accomplished, O Arjuna.
In simple words
Krishna closes this short, powerful chapter: "This is the deepest secret I have taught you, Arjuna. The person who grasps this becomes truly wise, and everything they need to accomplish is accomplished."
Word-by-word meanings
इतिthusगुह्यतमम्most secretशास्त्रम्science (teaching)इदम्thisउक्तम्has been taughtमयाby MeअनघO sinless oneएतत् बुद्ध्वाknowing thisबुद्धिमान्wiseस्यात्will becomeकृतकृत्यः(who has) accomplished all the dutiesचandभारतO Bharata
15.20 इति thus? गुह्यतमम् most secret? शास्त्रम् science (teaching)? इदम् this? उक्तम् has been taught? मया by Me? अनघ O sinless one? एतत् बुद्ध्वा knowing this? बुद्धिमान् wise? स्यात् will become? कृतकृत्यः (who has) accomplished all the duties? च and? भारत O Bharata.Commentary Guhyatamam Most profound secret.Buddhiman means here a knower of the Self or Atmart.The knowledge of the Self which gives emancipation from the round of birth and death? and freedom from the bonds of Karma is eulogised in this verse. If this most profound teaching is rightly understood? known or realised? it makes a man wise and gives him illumination. After this there is nothing left for him to know or strive for. He has reached the goal of life or the aim of human existence. He has arrived at the end of his journey. His endeavour for Selfrealisation is over. He has attained perfection. He has complete knowledge of the Supreme Being. He gets Brahma Jnana. He moves in the consciousness of the Divine. He beholds the Self everywhere. He lives in Brahman. He regards all activities as His divine play.When one realises Brahman? he has discharged all the duties of life. He is liberated from the bonds of Karma. He becomes a Jivanmukta or illumined sage who has transcended the bodyconsciousness? the three alities of Nature? the three states of consciousness (wakeful state? dream and deep sleep)? the pairs of opposites and the cycle of birth and death. He knows fully well that rirth has been destroyed? that what has to be done has been accomplished? that lifes highest goal has been reached and that he has nothing more to do or to learn. He has understood the profound mystery of life -- the riddle of this universe. He is a Sarvavit or allknower.The whole of the Gita is called science? yet the fifteenth discourse alone is here declared as the science for the sake of eulogising it. The fifteenth discourse contains the intessence of the Gita? the Upanishads and the Vedas. This is the butter churned from the milk of the Vedas. It has been said that? He who knows the peepul tree knows the Veda (XV.1). The Lord has also said? It is I Who am to be known by all the Vedas (XV.15). Only when a man knows this science as taught above does he become wise -- but not otherwise. Whatever duty a Brahmana of the highest birth has to do? all that has been doen when one attains the knowledge of the Self. All actions in their entirety culminate in knowledge (IV.33). This is the fulfilment of the birth? particularly of a Brahmana because the twicorn accomplishes all his duties only by attaining to this? but not otherwise? says Manu Smriti.As you have heard from Me this truth about the Supreme Being? you are a happy man and you have done all your duties you have attained Selfrealistion.By using the words Anagha and Bharata? Lord Krishna hints that even when an ordinary man who knows this fifteenth discourse can attain knowledge of the Self and become a Kritakritya? then what to say of Arjuna who was sinless and who was born in a noble family with divine attributes The Lord? by using the word Anagha? also indicates that the Guru who is a knower of Brahman should instruct the most profound secret (the science of the Self) only to alified persons who are free from impurities of the heart or tossing of the mind? who are calm and endowed with the four means of salvation. The man of impure mind will not be able to grasp the truth. The sinful man with his perverted intellect will distort the truth and thus pave the way for the destruction of himself and his followers.Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita? the science of the Eternal? the scripture of Yoga? the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna? ends the fifteenth discourse entitledThe Yoga of the Supreme Spirit. ,,
Commentaries
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
In this final verse of the present chapter (BG 15.20), Lord Sri Krishna declares that He has imparted to Arjuna the most secret knowledge. This knowledge is called secret or mysterious not in the sense that its teaching should be withheld from others, but rather because the Supreme Self, being beyond the reach of the senses, cannot be known by any person through direct perception or logical inference alone by means of intellect. Therefore, it remains a mystery to them. Only through the teachings of a wise scholar and one who has realized the Self—a true teacher—can knowledge of the Supreme be attained.
O sinless one—that action, feeling, or thought is called sin which, upon being performed, generates in our mind over time distraction, regret, and self-condemnation. When these arise, the inner faculty loses the subtlety and vigilance necessary for self-reflection. Thus, addressing Arjuna as sinless in this context reveals that he is worthy of Self-knowledge.
The person who knows his own supreme nature becomes wise. This means that after this knowledge, he does not err in understanding the true nature of things in life, nor in making decisions related to action. Consequently, he creates neither confusion nor suffering for himself, nor for others in society.
The fruit of knowledge of the Supreme is fulfillment—that state of complete contentment in the mind which arises upon attaining life's ultimate goal. This is called fulfillment. Thereafter, for such a person, nothing remains to be attained, and no duty remains unfulfilled. This verse assures the highest seekers of this supreme fruit of Self-knowledge.
Thus concludes the Fifteenth Chapter, named the Yoga of the Supreme Self, in the Upanishads of the Blessed Bhagavad Gita, the scripture of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna concerning the knowledge of Brahman.