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← Chapter 4: The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

Verse 4.30

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति। सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः।।

Transliteration (IAST)

apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇān prāṇeṣu juhvati sarve 'py ete yajña-vido yajña-kṣapita-kalmaṣāḥ

Word-by-Word Meanings

niyata-āhārāḥ-regulated in eating
prāṇān-life breaths
juhvati-offer
yajña-vidaḥ-knowers of sacrifice
yajña-kṣapita-destroyed by sacrifice
kalmaṣāḥ-sins/impurities

Translation

All these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reactions, and, having tasted the nectar of the results of sacrifices, they advance toward the supreme eternal atmosphere.

Commentary

Krishna concludes the catalog of sacrifices by affirming that all these practitioners, regardless of their specific method, are purified through their discipline. The common thread is yajña-vidaḥ - understanding the principle of sacrifice. The method matters less than the spirit of offering.

Themes

karmayogamoksha