18.71 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 18, Verse 71

Verse 18.71 of the Bhagavad Gita represents one of the most compassionate moments in Krishna's teachings, where He extends the benefits of spiritual knowledge to even the simplest act of listening. The Sanskrit text "śraddhāvān anasūyaś ca śṛṇuyād api yo naraḥ" conveys that even a person who merely listens to this divine conversation with faith and without envy will attain liberation and reach the auspicious worlds earned by those who perform virtuous deeds.

This verse appears near the conclusion of the Gita, where Krishna has just praised those who teach His words to others. Now, He creates a spiritual ladder accessible to everyone, regardless of their capacity for deep philosophical understanding. Krishna assures that even listening to the Gita with sincerity purifies one from sins and bestows spiritual advancement. This demonstrates the extraordinary power invested in these teachings—they work not just for scholars or yogis, but for anyone approaching them with an open heart.

The verse places special emphasis on two qualities necessary for the listener: śraddhā (faith) and anasūya (absence of envy or cynicism). Faith here doesn't mean blind belief, but rather a receptive attitude that allows the teachings to penetrate deeply. Without envy means approaching the wisdom without skepticism, criticism, or the tendency to find fault. When these two qualities are present, even passive listening becomes transformative.

Krishna reveals that such faithful hearing leads to mukti (liberation) and access to the śubhān lokān—the auspicious realms or dimensions of existence typically attained by those who have performed great virtuous deeds. This is a remarkable promise, suggesting that sincere engagement with the Gita's wisdom, even at the level of listening, carries the potency to change one's spiritual destiny.

The verse reflects Krishna's compassionate recognition of human limitations. Not everyone can be a teacher or even a dedicated student of spiritual knowledge, yet Krishna ensures nobody is excluded from the path. This inclusive approach makes the Gita not just a philosophical text, but a practical spiritual manual accessible to people of various capacities and circumstances.

According to commentators, this verse describes the Gita as dharmyam—aligned with eternal principles of righteousness. When we engage with such sacred knowledge, even through listening, we participate in a form of jñāna-yajña (sacrifice of knowledge). Just as traditional rituals involve offering physical items, here the offering is our attention and receptivity to divine wisdom.

The profound implication of this verse is that spiritual advancement doesn't necessarily require extraordinary abilities or dramatic life changes. It begins with the simple act of turning toward wisdom with faith and openness. Krishna meets us where we are, whether as teachers, students, or listeners, offering a graduated path where everyone can find their appropriate starting point. This verse stands as an eternal invitation—regardless of qualification or circumstance—to begin the journey back to divine consciousness through the doorway of receptive listening.