Bhagavad Gita · 4.33 · Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action·33 of 42
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥
śhreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ
parantapa sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate
Sanskrit recitation
Every act can be sacred · 4.24–4.33 · Teaching
Translation
Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O Parantapa (scorcher of the foes). All actions in their entirety, O Arjuna, culminate in knowledge.
Meaning
Sacrifices with material objects cause material effects and bring the sacrificer to this world for the enjoyment of the fruits, while wisdomsacrifice leads to Moksha. Therefore wisdomsacrifice is superior to the sacrifice performed with material objects. Just as rivers join the ocean, so do all actions join knowledge, i.e., they culminate in knowledge. All actions purify the heart and lead to the dawn of knowledge of the Self.All actions that are performed as offerings unto the Lord with their fruits are contained in the knowledge of Brahman. (Cf.IX.15X.25XVIII.70)
After Swami Sivananda
Every act can be sacred· 4.24–4.33→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 4.24Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the melted butter (ghee); by Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman; Brahman indeed shall be attained by one who always sees Brahman in action.
- 4.25Some yogis perform sacrifice to the gods alone; while others, who have realized the Self, offer the Self as sacrifice in the fire of Brahman alone.
- 4.26Some again offer the organ of hearing and other senses as a sacrifice in the fire of restraint; others offer sound and other objects of the senses as a sacrifice in the fire of the senses.
- 4.27Others again sacrifice all the functions of the senses and those of the breath (vital energy, or Prana) in the fire of the Yoga of self-restraint, kindled by knowledge.
- 4.28Others again offer wealth, austerity, and Yoga as sacrifice, while ascetics of self-restraint and rigid vows offer the study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice.
- 4.29Others offer as sacrifice the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming into the outgoing, restraining the flow of the outgoing and the incoming breaths, solely absorbed in the restraint of the breath.
- 4.30Others who regulate their diet offer life-breaths in each life-breath. All these are knowers of sacrifice, whose sins are destroyed through sacrifice.
- 4.31Those who eat the remnants of the sacrifice, which are like nectar, go to the eternal Brahman. This world is not for the one who does not perform sacrifice; how then can they have the other, O Arjuna?
- 4.32Thus, manifold sacrifices are spread out before Brahman at the face of Brahman. Know them all to be born of action, and thus knowing, you shall be liberated.
4.33Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O Parantapa (scorcher of the foes). All actions in their entirety, O Arjuna, culminate in knowledge.
Word-by-word→
- śhreyān
- superior
- dravya-mayāt
- of material possessions
- yajñāt
- than the sacrifice
- jñāna-yajñaḥ
- sacrifice performed in knowledge
- parantapa
- subduer of enemies, Arjun
- sarvam
- all
- karma
- works
- akhilam
- all
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- jñāne
- in knowledge
- parisamāpyate
- culminate
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