श्रीमद् भगवद्गीता

English Translation of Abhinavgupta's Sanskrit Commentary By Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

4.1-3 Evam etc. upto uttamam. Eventhough it has come down by regular succession of teacher, it is lost now. By this [statement] the Bhagavat indicates the rarity (or difficulty) and respectability of this knowledge. You are My devotee and friend too : You are a devotee having nothing but Me as your final goal and you are a friend too. This 'too' indicates the secondary importance [of the friendship]. Hence, just as in the sentence 'wander begging food [etc]', the importance lies in the act of begging food, but unimportance in the act of bringing the cow; in the same way, in the present case it is devotion towards the teacher that is important and not the friendship also. This is the idea intended here.

English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary By Swami Adidevananda

4.3 It is the same ancient, unchanged Yoga which is now taught to you, who out of friendship and overwhelming devotion have resorted to Me whole-heartedly. The meaning is that it has been taught to you fully with all its accessories. Because it is the most mysterious knowledge declared in the Vedanta, it cannot be known or taught by anyone other than Myself. In this connection, in order to know the truth about the Lord's descent correctly, Arjuna asked:

English Translation By Swami Gambirananda

4.3 That ancient Yoga itself, which is this, has been taught to you by Me today, considering that you are My devotee and friend, For, this (Yoga) is a profound secret.

English Translation Of Sri Shankaracharya's Sanskrit Commentary By Swami Gambirananda

4.3 Sah, that; puratanah, ancient; yogah, Yoga; eva, itself; ayam, which is this; proktah, has been taught; te, to you; maya, by Me; adya, today; iti, considering that; asi, you are; me, My; bhaktah, devotee; ca sakha, and friend. Hi, for; etat, this Yoga, i.e. Knowledge; is a uttamam, profound; rahasyam, secret. Lest someone should understand that the Lord has said something contradictory, therefore, in order to prevent that (doubt), as though raising a estion,