7.17 The one who knows stands out Krishna speaks

तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्ितर्विशिष्यते
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः

teṣhāṁ jñānī nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir viśhiṣhyate
priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa cha mama priyaḥ

Of these, the one who knows — always steady, devoted to the one thing — stands out. I am dear to that person, and that person is dear to me.

Explanation

And then a preference, immediately.

Of the four, the one who knows stands out — always steady, devoted to the one thing.

Then the line that is not about ranking at all: I am dear to that person, and that person is dear to me. The chapter grades the four and then describes the top one in the language of affection, not of merit.

Word by word

teṣhām: amongst these
jñānī: those who are situated in knowledge
nitya-yuktaḥ: ever steadfast
eka: exclusively
bhaktiḥ: devotion
viśhiṣhyate: highest
priyaḥ: very dear
hi: certainly
jñāninaḥ: to the person in knowledge
atyartham: highly
aham: I
saḥ: he
cha: and
mama: to me
priyaḥ: dear