Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4: Knowledge and the Renouncing of Action

Bhagavad Gita 4.1

imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam | vivasvān manave prāha manurikṣvākave'bravīt ||

I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan, the sun god. Vivasvan taught it to Manu, and Manu told it to Ikshvaku.

Modern context

Krishna begins the chapter by saying that what he has taught is not new. It was given at the beginning and passed from teacher to student. The point for us is that the deepest things we need to learn about living have been worked out, tested and handed on by many generations. Each generation has to rediscover them, but no one has to invent them. Calling the teaching 'imperishable' means that it stays true even in ages that forget it.