Verse 18.71
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः | सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ||७१||
Transliteration (IAST)
śraddhāvān anasūyaś ca śṛṇuyād api yo naraḥ | so 'pi muktaḥ śubhāl lokān prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām ||71||
Word-by-Word Meanings
śraddhāvān-full of faith
anasūyaḥ-free from envy
śṛṇuyāt-hears/listens
api-even
naraḥ-a person
muktaḥ-liberated
śubhān lokān-auspicious worlds
puṇya-karmaṇām-of those of meritorious deeds
Translation
Even the person who merely listens to this with faith and without envy shall be liberated and attain the auspicious worlds of the righteous.
Commentary
Krishna extends the benefit even to those who simply listen with faith. Shankaracharya explains that three levels of engagement are described: teaching (v.68), studying (v.70), and listening (v.71) - all lead to spiritual merit. Ramanuja notes that 'anasūya' (freedom from envy) is the key qualification for the listener, as envy blocks the reception of truth.
Themes
bhaktijnanamoksha