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Chapter 04, Verse 26
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति।
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति॥ 4.26॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
srotradinindriyany anye samyamagnisu juhvati।
sabdadin visayan anya indriyagnisu juhvati॥ 4.26॥
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. |
|
श्रोत्रादीनि (srotradini) |
The sense organs such as hearing (Srotra = ear) |
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
The senses |
|
अन्ये (anye) |
Others |
|
संयमाग्निषु (samyamagnisu) |
In the fire of self-restraint (discipline) |
|
जुह्वति (juhvati) |
Offer (as in a sacrifice) |
|
शब्दादीन् (sabdadin) |
Sound and other sense objects |
|
विषयान् (visayan) |
Sense objects (objects of perception) |
|
इन्द्रियाग्निषु (indriyagnisu) |
Into the fire of the senses |
|
जुह्वति (juhvati) |
Offer (sacrifice) |
Translation
“Some of them sacrifice hearing in the fire of the senses, and the senses in the fire of the mind and the fire in the fire of sacrifice and vice versa.”
Context of the Verse:
This verse is part of a series of verses (24-30) in which Krishna explains the different forms of spiritual practices and sacrifices (Yagyas) being performed by practitioners on the path of self-realization.
Here, he describes how giving up can sometimes be another way of giving:
- Others renounce the sense-perception itself (by control).
- While still others sacrifice the objects of the senses (sounds, and so forth) in the fire of the senses.
- It symbolizes austerity and renunciation in religious life (as opposed to formal rituals).
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Sacrifice as an self-discipline: Everything which is dedicated to living intentionally. Sacrifice and self-discipline interiors are devolved in life. Presentation of the inner impulses is also a holy work.
- Self-Restraint (Samyama) as Fire: The control of the mind is the altar upon which the desire nature is burnt as an offering.
- De-identification through Attention: Renouncing the objects of the senses or the sense-sense mode indicate that the practice of renouncing indulgence in sensual experiences.
- Variety of Paths: Krishna confirms various paths of self-purification, according to temperament and comprehension.
- When Every Act is Sacred: We can even spiritualize our relationship to our senses and to the world.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Arjuna is feeling conflicted about his emotions, duty and Dharma.
- This verse prompts him to realize that mastery over the senses even internally is a great gift.
- It reassures Arjuna that control and detached action are as important as offerings.
- Enables Arjuna to recast his inner turmoil and his outer act as possible instruments of spiritual advancement.
Explanation:
So Shravanam Keerthanam, the process is explained here. If one hears the Vedic mantras very nicely, this is also sacrifice. You could have heard so many things. Your attention could have gone to so many places. But this is called sacrifice. Similarly, you could have spoken so many things produced so many results. But when you chant the names of God, this is also considered sacrifice. Sacrifice of sound, sacrifice of hearing. These are various Yagyas.
Chapter 04, Verse 27
सर्वाणि इन्द्रिय कर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे।
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते॥ 4.27॥
sarvanindriya-karmani prana-karmani capare।
atma-samyama-yogagnau juhvati gyana-dipite॥ 4.27॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
सर्वाणि (sarvani) |
All |
|
इन्द्रिय (indriya) |
Sense organs |
|
कर्माणि (karmani) |
Activities, actions |
|
प्राणकर्माणि (prana-karmani) |
Functions of the life-breath (vital activities) |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
अपरे (apare) |
Others |
|
आत्मसंयम (atma-samyama) |
Self-control, self-restraint |
|
योग (yoga) |
Discipline or practice |
|
अग्नौ (agnau) |
Into the fire |
|
जुह्वति (juhvati) |
Offer, sacrifice |
|
ज्ञानदीपिते (gyana-dipite) |
Kindled by knowledge, illuminated by wisdom |
Translation
“Those who are self-possessed by mind and sense control, who are possessed of the self in terms of Yoga (the science of the individual consciousness attaining self-realization in the matter of the transcendental connection with the ultimate self), who offer all the functions of the senses, as also the vital force as the oblation into the fire of the controlled mind, do sacrifice.”
Context of the Verse:
This is part of the flow of verses from verse 25-30 in which Lord Krishna is talking about various sacrifices (Yagyas) performed by seekers on the spiritual path.
Here, Krishna speaks of a very internal Yagya where the sense activities and vital operations (such as breathing) are offered into the fire of Yoga, the fire of inner governance lit by spiritual wisdom. This sheds light on self-mastery as a potent spiritual discipline.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Yogas Sacrifice-Through Self-Discipline: Sacrifice out of Yogic sense-control to offer all sensory and life-functions to the fire is holy.
- Inner Fire of Yoga: Real change happens inside, through the fire of a dedicated Inner Yoga practice (Atma-Samyama -Yoga).
- Knowledge Lights Our Way: Knowledge (Gyana) brings the fire of discipline— blind austerity is not the end.
- Sanctification of All Work: Even the lowly work of the body can be a path to liberation, if it is performed in the worship of self-realization.
- Gross Yagya is not the only Yagya: Yagya is not merely the physical offering in a ritual - a higher offering is offering of thoughts and feelings; one’s mind and awareness.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Arjuna is also unsure of how to fight without incurring Karma.
- Krishna tells him that when actions are done in the fire of Yoga, they do not bind.
- Arjuna is being exhorted to consider even his battlefield roles as Dharma-tic, when performed with right understanding and discipline.
- This verse is Arjuna’s opportunity to learn that the inner attitude, not outward form, is what makes action valuable spiritually.
Explanation:
Here is the philosophy of the Yoga system of Patanjali. Where all the material activities are set aside and the soul endeavors to became one with the form of the supreme personality of godhead.
Chapter 04, Verse 28
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे |
स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतय: संशितव्रता: || 4.28 ||
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
dravya-yagyas tapo-yagya yoga-yagyas tathapare |
svadhyaya-gyana-yagyas cha yatayah sansita-vratah || 4.28 ||
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. |
|
द्रव्ययज्ञाः (dravya-yagyah) |
Sacrifices involving material possessions |
|
तपोयज्ञाः (tapo-yagyah) |
Sacrifices through austerities (tapas) |
|
योगयज्ञाः (yoga-yagyah) |
Sacrifices through practice of yoga |
|
तथा (tatha) |
Likewise / also |
|
अपरे (apare) |
Others |
|
स्वाध्याय (svadhyaya) |
Self-study / study of scriptures |
|
ज्ञानयज्ञाः (gyana-yagyas) |
Sacrifice of knowledge (spiritual wisdom) |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
यतयः (yatayah) |
The disciplined practitioners / ascetics |
|
संशितव्रताः (sansita-vratah) |
Firm in vows / determined in discipline |
Translation
“There are others who enlightened by sacrificing their material possessions in severe austerities. They extricate vows and practice the yoga of eightfold mysticism, and others study the way thus for the advancement of transcendental knowledge”.
Context of the Verse:
“This verse is part of a section where Lord Krishna elaborates on the various forms of Yagya (sacrifice) – not just the ritualistic fire offerings, but many broader interpretations of spiritual discipline. In the preceding verses (4.25-4.27), Krishna mentions different types of symbolic Yagyas, and here in verse 4.28, He expands further to include:
- Charity (Dravya-Yagyah)
- Austerity (Tapa-Yagya)
- Yogic practice (Yoga-Yagya)
- Study and pursuit of knowledge (Svadhyaya and Gyana-Yagyas)
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Multiple Paths to Spiritual Growth: Krishna recognizes many valid paths – service, penance, yoga, and knowledge – as forms of spiritual offering.
- Sacrifice as Inner Discipline: The idea of Yagya here transcends ritual and focuses on intentional, selfless acts done with dedication.
- Equality of Spiritual Efforts: All sincere efforts done with discipline (Sansita-Vratah) are valuable.
- Importance of Vows and Discipline: True seekers (Yatayah) are those who are committed to a higher spiritual code.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- For Arjuna, who is confused about duty, karma, and renunciation, this verse clarifies that:
- There isn’t one fixed spiritual path.
- His own duty (as a warrior), when done with dedication and selflessness, can be a form of Yagya.
- This encourages Arjuna not to abandon action but to perform it as a sacred offering.
Explanation:
Drabya Yagya Means general charitable activities, opening education institutes, schools, hospitals, dormitories, or offering the possessions in the altar of fire sacrifice. Offering of material possessions is called Drabya Yagya. Drabya means material substance, which is opulence wealth.
Then there is Tapo Yagya, some people take voluntarily hardships, austerities, many people, it is recommended in the Vedas that, that you should not shave. And many people follow it. They just don’t use their hands for eating. They take food directly from the floor. And don’t eat anything for sin gratification and many strict vows parents as they take for promotion to heavenly planets.
There are others who are doing Svadhya Yagya. Who are engaged in studying of the scriptures that is also Yagya, sacrifice. So, like this, there are various kinds of sacrifices.
Chapter 04, Verse 29
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे ।
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः ॥ 4.29 ॥
apne juhvati pranam prane-panam tathapare ।
pranapanagati ruddhva pranayamaparayanah ॥ 4.29 ॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
अपाने (apne) |
Into the outgoing breath (apana) |
|
जुह्वति (juhvati) |
Offer, sacrifice |
|
प्राणम् (pranam) |
The incoming breath (prana) |
|
प्राणे (prane) |
Into the incoming breath (prana) |
|
अपानम् (apanam) |
The outgoing breath (apana) |
|
तथा (tatha) |
Likewise, similarly |
|
अपरे (apare) |
Others, different practitioners |
|
प्राणापानगती (pranapanagati) |
The movements of Prana and Apana (incoming and outgoing breath) |
|
रुद्ध्वा (ruddhva) |
Restraining, having controlled |
|
प्राणायामपरायणाः (pranayamaparayanah) |
Devoted to breath control (pranayama), absorbed in pranayama |
Translation
“And there are those who, restraining the process of exhalation, practice remaining in a trance by suppressing the process of inhalation and instead, they practice exhaling into inhaling, although they eventually stop all inhalation and exhalation and remain in a trance. Some of them, by suppressing the process of eating, place the up-breathing in the down-breathing as an oblation.”
Context of the Verse:
This verse is from a part (verses 25 to 30) where the Supreme Lord Krishna details different kinds of Yagya (Sacrifice) sought out by seekers with different temperaments. Here, this is what He describes as a sacrifice, and that is Pranayam! Balancing of breath and control of breath is to subdue the mind and prepare the mind for higher spiritual experience.
The dynamics of Prana and Apana, the ascending and descending life-force, is a metaphor for inner poise and restraint. It is through these physiological acts that spiritual purification is affected.
Key Teachings of This Verse:
The regulation of breath may be understood as Yagya-purifying sacrifice, a sacred offering.
- Interior discipline is the exterior rite: The verse extends what constitutes spiritual practice beyond the external rite.
- Mental upliftment through restriction: When the breath is restricted, then we can control our senses and mind and concentration is also possible.
- All activities can be spiritual: Even our acts of breathing become meditative when performed mindfully and reverently.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Krishna is teaching Arjuna that there are many ways that an individual could reach spiritual realization, and self-control may be attained via many paths.
- For Arjuna, the lesson is this: One need not renounce action or rely on rituals alone – even inward disciplines like breath control can take one to liberation when done in the proper spirit.
- It enlightens Arjuna’s mind as to how Yoga, sacrifice, wisdom, and action are related and help one another.
So Pranayam is recommended here, which is practiced in the start of Hatha Yoga.
Chapter 04, Verse 30
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः।
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्॥ 4.30॥
sarve pyete yagya-vido yagya-ksapita-kalmasah।
yagya-sistamrta-bhujo yanti brahma sanatanam॥ 4.30॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
सर्वे (sarve) |
All |
|
अपि (api) |
Even |
|
एते (ete) |
These (practitioners of various sacrifices) |
|
यज्ञविदः (yagya-vidah) |
Knowers of sacrifice |
|
यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः (yagya-ksapita-kalmasah) |
Whose sins have been destroyed by sacrifices |
|
यज्ञशिष्ट (yagya-sista) |
What remains after sacrifice |
|
अमृतभुजः (amrta-bhujah) |
Eaters of the nectar (divine remnants) |
|
यान्ति (yanti) |
Attain |
|
ब्रह्म (brahma) |
The Supreme Absolute (Brahman) |
|
सनातनम् (sanatanam) |
Eternal |
Translation
“Thus, all these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reaction. And partaking of the residue of the offer of such a sacrifice, they enter into the supreme eternal atmosphere.”
Context of the Verse:
In this shloka, Sri Krishna ends the series of different kinds of Yagya (sacrifice) described from shloka 25 to 29. However, he stresses that all true worshipers of the spirit who practice earnestly by whatever means, purify their souls through sacrifice and take the directly liberating way (Moksa-Marga).
This verse harmonizes all sacrifices as following one truth: when performed with detachment and understanding, they are a path for the journey beyond wrong and the highest, Brahman.
Key Teachings of This Verse:
- Unity in the Diversity of Spiritual Paths: All sacrificial paths prompt to the same destination, when intelligently followed.
- Of Purification by Sacrifice: Offering destroys the impurities of heart and mind.
- Sacred Product (Amṛta): The divine substance one gets after sacrifice is termed as nectar, which is eternal and nectar for the soul.
- Fulfilment of Brahman: The final and supreme payment of sacrifice to life is reunion with the eternal Supreme Reality (Brahman).
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Krishna is trying to explain that disinterested action, if performed as a yajna, becomes spiritually purifying and can lead to Moksa.
- Arjuna, who does not want to fight, is being led toward considering action as a holy offering and not as a self-serving maneuver.
- This verse comforts him: the practice itself is not what matters; rather, it is the intention and the wisdom that informs it.
Explanation:
One who understands the sacrifice. Then they proceed to the eternal atmosphere.
You cannot simply do something without understanding its meaning and expect results of any kind. So, with that, knowledge is super, super important. Even if we are doing Ashtanga Yoga, not recommended for Kali Yoga, but Lord Kapil says this is very much important, you must have knowledge. In knowledge, when a person would perform a Yagya by such a Yagya knower, i.e., he who knows the real meaning of all the aforesaid sacrificial performances, then that person would pass through the cosmic atmosphere. Others, they must wait until they attain to the knowledge platform.