Meaning
Supreme God Krishna spoke
Among these, the enlightened Truth-knower who remains in constant communion with Me, holding a deep emotional attachment to Me alone, is the most exceptional. Such a devotee loves Me supremely, and I reciprocate that love in kind. (7:17)
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते ।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः॥
Word-by-word
तेषाम् ज्ञानी नित्य-युक्तः एक-भक्तिः वि-शिष्यते;
प्रियः हि ज्ञानिनः अति-अर्थम् अहम्, सः च मम प्रियः।
Commentary
Therefore, unlike what many Hindu creeds advocate, God loves most those who possess both Bhakti and Jnāna together—that is, a loving devotion to God combined with spiritual knowledge and enlightenment.
Consider the resonance of this verse in the Rām-charit-mānas:
"Rāma bhagat jaga chāri prakāra।
Sukriti chāriu anagh udāra।।
Chahu chatura kahun nām adhāra
Gyāni prabhuhi bisesi piyāra।।"^1
(21:3, 4, Bāl-Kānd, Rām-charit-mānas.
Footnotes