Beginning, middle and end

sargāṇāmādirantaśca madhyaṃ caivāhamarjunaadhyātmavidyā vidyānāṃ vādaḥ pravadatāmaham

Of all creations I am the beginning, the end and the middle, Arjuna. Of all knowledge, knowledge of the Self. Of debaters, the reasoning.

What it means

Krishna steps back from single examples. Of all creation, he is the beginning, middle and end. Of all branches of learning, adhyatma vidya, knowledge of the Self, is him. And in every honest debate, he is vada, the reasoning that seeks truth, not victory. The best of learning points inward.

The story

Arjuna has studied warfare, statecraft and scripture. Krishna says the knowledge that matters most is knowing who you truly are. Everything else rests on that.

In your life

Imagine someone who has every qualification, yet doesn't know what they truly want from life. Spend fifteen minutes this week writing honestly about who you are beneath your roles.