Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 34
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 4 श्लोक 34

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः।।4.34।।



हिंदी अनुवाद - स्वामी रामसुख दास जी ( भगवद् गीता 4.34)
।।4.34।।उस(तत्त्वज्ञान)को (तत्त्वदर्शी ज्ञानी महापुरुषोंके पास जाकर) समझ। उनको साष्टाङ्ग दण्डवत् प्रणाम करनेसे उनकी सेवा करनेसे और सरलतापूर्वक प्रश्न करनेसे वे तत्त्वदर्शी ज्ञानी महापुरुष तुझे उस तत्त्वज्ञानका उपदेश देंगे।


English Translation of Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Shankaracharya's
4.34 Viddhi, know; tat, that, the process by which It is acired; by approaching teachers pranipatena, through prostration, by lying fully streched on the ground with face downward, with prolonged salutation; pariprasnena, through iniry, as to how bondage and Liberation come, and what are Knowledge and ignorance; and sevaya, through the service of the guru. (Know it) through these and other (disciplines) [Other disciplines such as control of the mind, body, etc. Sankaracaryas own words in the Commentary are evamadina, after which Ast. puts a full stop, and agreeing with this, A.G. says that the word viddhi (know) is to be connected with evamadina. Hence this translation. Alternatively, those words have to be taken with prasrayena. Then the meaning will be, Being pleased with such and other forms of humility৷৷.-Tr.]. Being pleased with humility, jnaninah, the wise ones, the teachers; tattva-darsinah, who have realized the Truth; upadeksyanti, will impart, will tell; te, you; jnanam, the Knowledge as described above.
Although people may be wise, some of them are apt to know Truth just as it is, while others may not be so. Hence the alification, who have realized the Truth. The considered view of the Lord is that Knowledge imparted by those who have full enlightenment becomes effective, not any other.
That being so, the next verse also becomes appropriate:


English Translation of Commentary  - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
4.34 See Comment under 4.35


English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary
4.34 This is the knowledge concerning the self that has been taught by Me in the verses beginning with Know that to be indestructibe (2.17) and ending with this has been given to you (2.39). So engaged in appropriate actions, you can learn, according to the maturity of your competence, this wisdom from the wise, who will explain it to you, if you attend on them through prostrating and estioning and by serving them. The wise are those who have immediate apprehension (or vision) of the true nature of the self. Having been honoured by you through prostration etc., and observing your mental disposition characterised by desire for knowledge which you have evinced by your estions, they will teach you this knowledge.

Sri Krsna now speaks of the characterisitcs of knowledge concerning the nature of the self, in the form of direct perception.


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 4.34Tadviddhi pranipaatena pariprashnena sevayaa;
Upadekshyanti te jnaanam jnaaninas tattwadarshinah.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 4.34tat—the Truth; viddhi—try to learn; praṇipātena—by approaching a spiritual master; paripraśhnena—by humble inquiries; sevayā—by rendering service; upadekṣhyanti—can impart; te—unto you; jñānam—knowledge; jñāninaḥ—the enlightened; tattva-darśhinaḥ—those who have realized the Truth