Verse 4.33
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप। सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते।।
Transliteration (IAST)
śreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ parantapa sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate
Word-by-Word Meanings
śreyān-superior
dravya-mayāt-of material possessions
jñāna-yajñaḥ-sacrifice in knowledge
sarvam-all
karma-action
parisamāpyate-culminates/ends
Translation
O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is superior to the mere sacrifice of material possessions. After all, O son of Pṛthā, all sacrifices of work culminate in transcendental knowledge.
Commentary
This pivotal verse establishes the supremacy of jñāna-yajña over all material sacrifices. All forms of karma ultimately lead to and culminate in knowledge. This is the chapter's central thesis: knowledge is both the means and the end, the fire that consumes all karmic residue.
Themes
jnanakarmayoga