GitaChapter 18Verse 63

Gita 18.63

Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया | विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ||६३||

iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā | vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru ||63||

In essence: Thus I have declared to you knowledge more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully, then do as you wish.

A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply

Sadhak-Guru Dialogue

Sadhak: "'Do as you wish'—isn't this too permissive? What if I wish wrongly?"

Guru: "Krishna has already shown the consequences of different choices—nothing is hidden. If you choose wrongly now, you do so fully informed. The teaching isn't 'anything goes' but 'I've shown you truth; now you must own your choice.' Spiritual maturity requires choosing truth because you see it, not because you're forced."

Sadhak: "'Reflect completely'—how do I know when I've reflected enough?"

Guru: "'Asheshena'—without remainder, completely. This means engaging all aspects: intellectually understanding, emotionally resonating, practically envisioning application. Quick surface agreement isn't enough; deep processing that integrates the teaching into your being is required. When doubt has been addressed and clarity emerges, reflection is complete."

Sadhak: "Why is this knowledge called 'more secret than secret'?"

Guru: "Because it's not available through ordinary means. Worldly knowledge comes through study; this knowledge comes through grace, surrender, and inner transformation. It's 'secret' not because God hides it but because the unprepared can't receive it. The door is open, but most aren't looking in that direction."

Sadhak: "If Krishna respects my freedom so much, why did He give such lengthy teaching? Couldn't He just say 'choose freely'?"

Guru: "Because uninformed choice isn't real freedom. A blindfolded person at a crossroads isn't free—they're random. Freedom requires knowledge of the paths and their destinations. Krishna removes the blindfold through teaching. NOW Arjuna's choice is genuinely free—he knows what he's choosing."

Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.

🌅 Daily Practice

🌅 Morning

Choose one aspect of the Gita's teaching and commit to 'asheshena vimrishya'—reflecting on it completely today. Not rushing to conclusions but letting it work in your awareness throughout the day.

☀️ Daytime

When choices arise, practice the model: 'I have knowledge about the options and their consequences. Now I choose consciously.' Don't act from habit or pressure but from reflection. This is the dignity Krishna offers—informed, free choice.

🌙 Evening

Journal reflection: 'What am I choosing, really? Not what I say I value but what my actual choices reveal I value? Am I choosing as Krishna's teaching suggests, or differently?' This honest assessment honors both the teaching and your freedom.

Common Questions

Does 'do as you wish' mean Krishna doesn't care what I choose?
No—Krishna clearly prefers that Arjuna follow dharma, take refuge, and fight. But He won't override Arjuna's will. Divine love respects freedom. If Arjuna chooses wrongly, Krishna will be sad (as friend) but won't force compliance. Love that coerces isn't love.
How can reflection help if I'm too confused to think clearly?
Start with what's clear. You may not understand everything, but some aspects resonate. Begin there. As you reflect on what's clear, the unclear becomes clearer. Also, you can reflect WITH Krishna—ask for clarity, and reflection becomes dialogue. You're not alone in processing.
This sounds like Krishna is washing His hands—'I've told you, now it's your problem.'
Not washing hands but honoring maturity. A parent who makes all decisions for an adult child isn't loving but controlling. Krishna has been the perfect teacher; now He's being the perfect friend—trusting Arjuna's capacity to choose. The next verses show He hasn't finished—He has one more offering.