Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Verse 53 भगवद् गीता अध्याय 11 श्लोक 53 नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया। शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा।।11.53।। English Translation - Swami Gambirananda 11.53 Not through the Vedas, not by austerity, not by gifts, nor even by sacrifice can I be seen in this form as you have seen Me. English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary 11.53 - 11.54 Sri Krsna says By Vedas, i.e., by mere study, teaching etc., of these sacred texts, it is not possible to know Me truly. It is also not possible through meditation, sacrifices, gifts and austerities, destitute of devotion towards Me. But by single-minded devotion i.e., by devotion characterised by extreme ardour and intensity, it is possible to know Me in reality through scriptures, to behold Me directly in reality, and enter into Me in reality. So describes a Sruti passage: This Self cannot be obtained by instruction, nor by intellect nor by much hearing. Whomsoever He chooses, by him alone is He obtained. To such a one He reveals His own form (Ka. U., 2.2.23) and (Mun. U., 3.2.3). Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 11.53Naa ham vedairna tapasaa na daanena na chejyayaa; Shakya evamvidho drashtum drishtavaanasi maam yathaa. Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 11.53śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; su-durdarśham—exceedingly difficult to behold; idam—this; rūpam—form; dṛiṣhṭavān asi—that you are seeing; yat—which; mama—of mine; devāḥ—the celestial gods; api—even; asya—this; rūpasya—form; nityam—eternally; darśhana-kāṅkṣhiṇaḥ—aspiring to see; na—never; aham—I; vedaiḥ—by study of the Vedas; na—never; tapasā—by serious penances; na—never; dānena—by charity; na—never; cha—also; ijyayā—by worship; śhakyaḥ—it is possible; evam-vidhaḥ—like this; draṣhṭum—to see; dṛiṣhṭavān—seeing; asi—you are; mām—me; yathā—as