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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 33

भगवद् गीता अध्याय 4 श्लोक 33

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते।।4.33।।

English Translation - Swami Gambirananda

4.33 O destroyer of enemies, Knowledge considered as a sacrifice is greater than sacrifices reiring materials. O son of Prtha, all actions in their totality culminate in Knowledge.

English Translation - Swami Sivananda

4.33 Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O Parantapa (scorcher of the foes). All actions in their entirely, O Arjuna, culminate in knowledge.

English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

4.33. The sacrifice by knowledge is superior to the sacrifice by material. O son of Prtha, scorcher of foes ! All actions, leaving no bit, meet their total end in knowledge.

English Commentary - Swami Sivananda

4.33 श्रेयान् superior? द्रव्यमयात् with objects? यज्ञात् than sacrifice? ज्ञानयज्ञः knowledgesacrifice? परन्तप O Parantapa? सर्वम् all? कर्म action? अखिलम् in its entirely? पार्थ O Partha? ज्ञाने in knowledge? परिसमाप्यते is culminated.Commentary Sacrifices with material objects cause material effects and bring the sacrificer to this world for the enjoyment of the fruits? while wisdomsacrifice leads to Moksha. Therefore wisdomsacrifice is superior to the sacrifice performed with material objects. Just as rivers join the ocean? so do all actions join knowledge? i.e.? they culminate in knowledge. All actions purify the heart and lead to the dawn of knowledge of the Self.All actions that are performed as offerings unto the Lord with their fruits are contained in the knowledge of Brahman. (Cf.IX.15X.25XVIII.70)

English Translation of Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Shankaracharya's

4.33 O destroyer of enemies, jnana-yajnah, Knowledge considered as a sacrifice; is sreyan, greater; dravyamayat yajnat, than sacrifices reiring materials [Including study of the Vedas, etc. also.] For, a sacrifice performed with materials is an originator of results, [Worldly prosperity, attaining heaven, etc.], but Knowledge considered as a sacrifice is not productive of results. [It only reveals the state of Liberation that is an achieved fact. (According to Advaitism, Liberation consists in the removal of ignorance by Illumination. Nothing new is produced thery.-Tr.)]. Hence it is greater, more praiseworthy. How? Because, sarvam, all; karma-akhilam, actions in their totality, without exception; O son of Prtha, parisamapyate, culminate, get merged (attain their consummation); jnane, in Knowledge, which is a means to Liberation and is comparable to a flood all around (cf.2.46). This is the idea, which accords with the Upanisadic text, As when the (face of a die) bearing the number 4, called Krta, wins, the other inferior (numbers on the die-faces) get included in it, so whatever good actions are performed by beings, all that gets merged in this one (Raikva). (So it happens) to anyone who knows what he (Raikva) knew (Ch. 4.1.4). In that case, by what means is this highly estimable Knowledge acired? The answer is being given:

English Translation of Commentary - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

4.33 Sreyan etc. The sacrifice, illuminated by knowledge, is much more superior to the sacrifice consisting of materials exclusively. The exclusive nature [of it] is indicated by the suffix mayat [in dravyamaya]. For, all actions attain their finality in knowledge.

English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary

4.33 Karma Yoga has two aspects - knowledge and material ingredients. Of these two, the component of knowledge is superior to the component of material ingredients. Knowledge is the culmination of all actions and of everything else, accessories and other things helpful. This knowledge alone, which is to be obtained by all means, is practised as comprehended in Karma Yoga. And this knowledge being regularly practised, reaches gradually what is ultimately attainable i.e., the vision of the self.

Commentary - Chakravarthi Ji

Among these sacrifices, the jnana yajna described in verse 25 with the words brahmagnav apare yajnam yajnenaivopajuhvati is superior to the sacrifice of material objects such as oblations of ghee described in verse 24. Why? With the attainment of knowledge, all actions which bearing fruit (akhilam), are finished. After attaining knowledge, reactions no longer remain.

Rudra Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary

Here the superiority of yagnas or offerings of worship to propitiate the Supreme Lord performed in jnana yoga or in the cultivation of Vedic knowledge is being explained by Lord Krishna. The yagna accomplished by knowledge is superior to the yagna performed by material ingredients for the yagna performed in knowledge is accomplished by no other auspices other than the atma or soul. Although the jnana yagna is dependent upon the activity of the mind yet the knowledge realised that is identical with the atma manifests itself as a modification of ones thoughts and not a by product of ones mind as in the case of yagnas performed with material ingredients. The Chandogya Upanisad IV.I.IV states that: Whatever righteousness persons do is all completely comprised of knowledge. In the performance of jnana yagna all activities in their entirety are along with their results are fully comprised of knowledge.

Brahma Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary

Every activity recommended in the preceding verses are useful methods of upasana or engaging oneself in glorifying the Supreme Lord. Spiritual knowledge is the result of this. Now begins the summation. Everything is verily performance of actions but by itself it amounts to very little. The culmination of Vedic actions is spiritual knowledge and solely in spiritual realisation do actions find fulfilment. In the Mundaka Upanisad it states: That acts of yagna or offerings of worship are undoubtedly meritorious in themselves; but superior to them is spiritual knowledge where all doubts are dispelled and the need for all actions terminated. The point Lord Krishna is making is that all actions culminate in knowledge.

Shri Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary

Karma or actions has two aspects. The action of using the paraphernalia and ingredients to perform it is one aspect and the spiritual intelligence to perform it properly is the second aspect. The second aspect of spiritual knowledge is superior to the first aspect consisting of material ingredients. All activities culmimnate in wisdom. Any action performed without directed intelligence is meaningless. Hence all activities should be performed with wisdom involved being that spiritual knowledge is the goal that is desired to be reached by every means possible uatntil by constant endeavour one attains the final attainment.

Kumara Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary

Karma or actions has two aspects. The action of using the paraphernalia and ingredients to perform it is one aspect and the spiritual intelligence to perform it properly is the second aspect. The second aspect of spiritual knowledge is superior to the first aspect consisting of material ingredients. All activities culmimnate in wisdom. Any action performed without directed intelligence is meaningless. Hence all activities should be performed with wisdom involved being that spiritual knowledge is the goal that is desired to be reached by every means possible uatntil by constant endeavour one attains the final attainment.

Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 4.33

Shreyaan dravyamayaadyajnaaj jnaanayajnah parantapa; Sarvam karmaakhilam paartha jnaane parisamaapyate.

Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 4.33

śhreyān—superior; dravya-mayāt—of material possessions; yajñāt—than the sacrifice; jñāna-yajñaḥ—sacrifice performed in knowledge; parantapa—subduer of enemies, Arjun; sarvam—all; karma—works; akhilam—all; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; jñāne—in knowledge; parisamāpyate—culminate