Chapter 04, Verse 36
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः।
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि॥ 4.36॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
api ced asi papebhyah sarvebhyah papakrttamah।
sarvam gyanaplavenaiva vrjinam santarisyasi॥ 4.36॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca) |
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct
speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding
Arjuna. |
|
अपि (api) |
Even if |
|
चेत् (cet) |
If |
|
असि (asi) |
You are |
|
पापेभ्यः (papebhyah) |
Than the sinners |
|
सर्वेभ्यः (sarvebhyah) |
All |
|
पापकृत्-तमः (papakrt-tamah) |
Most sinful (worst of sinners) |
|
सर्वम् (sarvam) |
All |
|
ज्ञान-प्लवेन (gyana-plavena ) |
By the boat of knowledge |
|
एव (eva) |
Certainly |
|
वृजिनम् (vrjinam) |
Sinful reactions / misdeeds |
|
सन्तरिष्यसि (santarisyasi) |
You shall cross over |
Translation
“And although of the most sinful of all sinners, you will also be able to cross over the ocean of miseries seated in the boat of transcendental knowledge.”
Context of the Verse:
This shloka is narrated by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the 4th chapter: The Yoga of Knowledge. Lord Krishna has been demystifying the purifying value of the Gyana. After the previous verses highlighted the significance of receiving transcendental knowledge from a bona fide teacher (Guru), Krishna now underscores how powerful this knowledge is-it can cancel the most grievous sins.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Power of Gyana: (Spiritual Knowledge): The knowledge is so powerful that it can make even a sinner ascend high in spiritual world.
- The Common Hope: No one is beyond hope of salvation; the “worst” can by transformed by right knowledge.
- Confidence in Mind: Wisdom is a boat or raft by which an individual crosses the ocean.
- Spiritual Turnaround: Life is not about who you are, you can change, with a little Godly help.
Relevance to Arjuna:
Arjuna was haunted by the moral dilemma within him, and could hardly justify such a war with his conscience. This verse brings us comfort and hope. Krishna affirms to Arjuna that whether he has committed heinous crimes or been impure, true knowledge and duty purified by wisdom will cleanse and exalt him. It moves Arjuna to transcend his regret and make a decision with clarity and virtue.
Explanation:
So, if there is a man of knowledge, he can alleviate the miseries of life. If you don’t know, we get it. For the record, in case you didn’t know, science dog doesn’t study science.
His ancestors and even the family in which is born were experiencing the same problem which he has today. No house dwelling for himself he can have. He can’t build a kitchen, to make food for himself. But we can, because we know the sciences, know we can because science of God, however. There will be no ideal solution of life problems.
We would simply be moving a problem or causing additional problems to develop. So, knowledge that is the idea when we have transcendental knowledge, this knowledge that all the living entities are part and parcel of God when we understand all miseries are solution.
Chapter 04, Verse 37
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा॥ 4.37॥
yathaidhamsi samiddho gnir bhasmasat kurute rjuna।
gyanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha॥ 4.37॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
यथा (yatha) |
Just as |
|
इधांसि (idhamsi) |
Firewood |
|
समिद्धः (samiddhah) |
Blazing (well-kindled) |
|
अग्निः (agnih) |
Fire |
|
भस्मसात् (bhasmasat) |
Reduces to ashes |
|
कुरुते (kurute) |
Does, makes |
|
अर्जुन (arjuna) |
O Arjuna |
|
ज्ञान-अग्निः (gyana-agnih) |
The fire of knowledge |
|
सर्व-कर्माणि (sarva-karmani) |
All actions (karmas, including sinful and binding acts)
|
|
भस्मसात् (bhasmasat) |
Into ashes |
|
कुरुते (kurute) |
Does, makes |
|
तथा (tatha) |
In the same way / similarly |
Translation
“Just as a blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all reactions to sense gratification to ashes.
Context of the Verse:
This verse comes after Chapter 4.36, in which Krishna informed Arjuna that knowledge can rescue even the most sinful person from ocean of sin. Now Krishna participates with a wonderful metaphor: Â like the way a fire consumes the fuel and reduces it to nothing, self-knowledge obliterates the remnants of action (Karma). This again shows how the knowledge of the Divine is transforming and liberating.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Potency of the Transformative Knowledge: The transcendental or Divine knowledge is not dull or static but dynamic, powerful and purifying.
- Burning the Karma: Just as the fire burns the wood turning it ash, the knowledge turns your Karma to ash, making you free from the bondage.
- Internal Purification: It is an internal detox. The ignorance and the past acts are burnt away by knowledge of the true Self (Atman).
- Spiritual Rebirth: Knowledge generates light and light obliterates the darkness of Karmas – good or bad- to liberate the holy soul registration of its body.
Relevance to Arjuna:
Arjuna has guilt of war and Karmic guilty of killing relatives and superiors. To this verse, Lord Krishna assures him that if he attains Gyana (knowledge) on his actual divinity and righteousness action without attachment, all residue of Karam from his action shall be burnt like the fire making the wood free of its elements. This is to remove the fear and doubt of Arjuna.
Chapter 04, Verse 38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति || 4.38 ||
na hi gyanena sadrsam pavitram iha vidyate |
tat svayam yoga samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati || 4.38 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
हि (hi) |
Certainly / Indeed |
|
ज्ञानेन (gyanena) |
By knowledge |
|
सदृशं (sadrsam) |
Comparable / Equal |
|
पवित्रम् (pavitram) |
Pure / Purifier |
|
इह (iha) |
In this world |
|
विद्यते (vidyate) |
Exists |
|
तत् (tat) |
That (knowledge) |
|
स्वयं (svayam) |
Himself / On his own |
|
योग-संसिद्धः (yoga-samsiddhah) |
Perfected in yoga (union or discipline) |
|
कालेन (kalena) |
In due course of time |
|
आत्मनि (atmani) |
In the self |
|
विन्दति (vindati) |
Attains / Finds |
Translation
“In this world, there is nothing so sublime and purse transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism and one who has achieved this and enjoys the self within himself in a due course of time.”
Context of the Verse:
This verse is from Chapter 4 of Bhagavad Gita known as “Gyana Karma Sannyasa Yoga” – the Yoga of Knowledge and the Discipline of Action. Krishna tells Arjuna to know this Gyana, which is most valuable. Once again, Krishna insists that real knowledge nourishes the mind and brings about self-realization.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Knowledge is Best: Knowledge is the sole purifier.
- Not Instantaneous Knowledge: Percept of such knowledge is completed only gradually (Kalena).
- Yoga is the Way: One becomes eligible to receive this knowledge – it is through the path of Yoga (practice, complete devotion and meditation), begins the process.
- Self-Realization is Interior: The truth is realised in the soul and not from any sources external to one’s self.
- Nature of Spiritual Evolution: The inner knowledge is possible for any seeker who makes an honest effort and has patience.
Relevance to Arjuna:
At the start of the Gita, Arjuna is confused and disheartened. In this verse, Krishna assures him that spiritual knowledge is the way to Divine Self-illumination and freedom. As a Kshatriya, his duty is to fight in the war, but he is persuaded to do so with the means of knowledge and Yoga, resulting in freedom from doubt and sorrow.
Explanation:
The problems of dream are immediately solved when you wake from a dream. Thus. If I can resume my loving relationship with Krishna, then as I think of my beloved, heart is full of happiness. And when they are living with Krishna, in all senses they return to the power, in one’s heart man and the memories that he has been pleased enthrals love of God always. This state of affairs is referred to in this verse. When the relationship with Krishna, its memories revived, man is always rejoicing love of God within himself. This situation is explained in this verse.
Chapter 04, Verse 39
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति॥ 4.39॥
sraddhavan labhate gyanam tat-parah samyatendriyah।
gyanam labdhva param santim acirena adhigacchati॥ 4.39॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रद्धावान् (sraddhavan)
|
One with faith |
|
लभते (labhate) |
Attains |
|
ज्ञानम् (gyanam) |
Knowledge (spiritual wisdom) |
|
तत्परः (tat-parah) |
Devoted to that (pursuit of knowledge) |
|
संयत-इन्द्रियः (samyata-indriyah) |
With controlled senses |
|
ज्ञानम् (gyanam) |
Knowledge |
|
लब्ध्वा (labdhva) |
Having attained |
|
पराम् (param) Supreme (transcendental) |
Supreme (transcendental) |
|
शान्तिम् (santim) |
Peace |
|
अचिरेण (acirena) |
Quickly, without delay |
|
अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati) |
Attains, reaches |
Translation
“In the material world, one who remains unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge of eternal truth, such a man will never submit to the bondage of this material world.”
Context of the Verse:
This is one of many verses in which Shri Krishna is describing the value of knowledge (Gyana Yoga) and how it is superior to ritualistic action based on true understanding. Krishna is inspiring Arjuna to wisdom by honesty, disciplined and devotional wisdom.
After explaining the importance of going to a learned teacher (verse 34) and of the transformative power of knowledge (verses 35–38), verse 39 clarifies the qualifications necessary for gaining that knowledge: faith, surrender, and controlled senses.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Sraddhda (Faith): The foundation of everything is faith.
- Discipline and Devotion: Mere intellectual knowledge is not sufficient – one is devoted (Tat-Parah) and disciplined (Samyatendriyah).
- It Leads to immediate (Acirena) or not delayed inner peace (Parm Santim): Once wisdom is gained, it leads to inner peace.
- Path of Self-Realization: The verse inspires an inward journey a mastery of the senses and concentration of the mind on highest truth.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- This verse is a solace and an advice to Arjuna when he is in a state of moral-emotional squalor. Krishna is telling him that:
- With good effort and discipline he can obtain the wisdom, which eradicates the doubt.
- In this wisdom, he will have the peace and discernment required to perform his duty (Dharma) without attachment or vexation.
Explanation:
So, the word used here, very important. The initial word is ‘Sradhavan’ that is disciple. He only gets knowledge. How? Then by meditating on the census, he who permits himself to be absorbed in transcendental knowledge, obtains the highest spiritual tranquillity.
So, control of the senses is very important. All of these several Yagyas which are mentioned here, these are all meant to put reins on the senses. “Restrain the senses and hear Krishna-katha. Control the senses. Chanting Krishna, sense control, sense gratification in charity.
“Restrain your passions and pursuit knowledge. Control your senses. But keep your breath from where it lands. Give up all these sense enjoyments. Therefore, all these Yagyas are for control of the senses. So, such person, who is faithful in the scriptures, who has controlled his senses, he attains peace very quickly, but just one who is not that faithful, then his destination is very sinister Krishna is telling in next Verse 40.