Verse 13.26
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते | तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः ||२६||
Transliteration (IAST)
anye tv evam ajānantaḥ śrutvānyebhya upāsate | te 'pi cātitaranty eva mṛtyuṁ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ ||26||
Word-by-Word Meanings
anye-others
ajānantaḥ-not knowing (directly)
śrutvā-having heard
anyebhyaḥ-from others
upāsate-worship/practice
atitaranti-cross beyond
mṛtyum-death
śruti-parāyaṇāḥ-devoted to hearing (scripture)
Translation
Yet others, not knowing these paths directly, worship having heard from others. They too cross beyond death, being devoted to what they have heard.
Commentary
This compassionate verse extends hope to those who lack the capacity for meditation or philosophical analysis. Even those who simply hear the teaching from others and faithfully follow it can transcend death. Shankaracharya notes that śraddhā (faith) in the words of the guru and scripture is itself a valid means when combined with sincere practice.
Themes
bhaktijnanamoksha