Verse 4.36
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः। सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि।।
Transliteration (IAST)
api ced asi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛttamaḥ sarvaṁ jñāna-plavenaiva vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi
Word-by-Word Meanings
api cet-even if
pāpa-kṛttamaḥ-the greatest sinner
jñāna-plavena-by the boat of knowledge
vṛjinam-ocean of sin/misery
santariṣyasi-you shall cross over
sarvam-all
Translation
Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.
Commentary
Krishna offers radical hope: no amount of past sin can prevent liberation through knowledge. The metaphor of the boat (plava) crossing the ocean of suffering is powerful - knowledge is the vehicle that carries one beyond all accumulated karma regardless of its magnitude.
Themes
jnanamokshakarma