Bhagavad Gita BG 18.71
Chapter 18, Verse 71 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः । सो ऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान् प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥
shraddha-van anasuyash ca shrnuyad api yo narah so 'pi muktah shubhan lokan prapnuyat punya-karmanam
Meaning
And even a person who hears with faith and without carping — they too shall be liberated and attain the blessed worlds of those of meritorious action.
Understanding
Even the HEARER benefits: shraddha-van anasuyash ca (endowed with shraddha/faith and without anasUya/carping-malice). Shrnuyad api yo narah (a person who HEARS this even). So 'pi muktah (that person too shall be liberated — not just the teacher or the student, but even the hearer). Shubhan lokan prapnuyat punya-karmanam (shall attain the auspicious worlds of those of meritorious action). The two conditions for the hearer: shraddha (receptive faith, not blind belief) and anasUya (without malicious carping). With these two, even passive hearing of the Gita bears liberation. This is the ultimate accessibility of the teaching.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| श्रद्धावान् | shraddha-van | endowed with shraddha/faith, faithful |
| अनसूयः | anasuyah | without carping/malice, free from envy (an-asUya) |
| शृणुयात् | shrnuyat | would hear, might hear (conditional) |
| मुक्तः | muktah | liberated, freed |
| शुभान् | shubhan | auspicious, blessed, beautiful |
| पुण्यकर्मणाम् | punya-karmanam | of those of meritorious/virtuous action (punya = merit, karma = action) |
| श्रद्धावान् | śraddhā-vān | with faith |
| अनसूयः | anasūyaḥ ca | and without envy |
| शृणुयात् | śṛṇuyāt | hears |
| अपि | api | even |
| यः | yaḥ | whoever |
| नरः | naraḥ | a person |
| सः | saḥ api | even he |
| मुक्तः | muktaḥ | liberated |
| शुभान् | śubhān | auspicious |
| लोकान् | lokān | worlds |
| प्राप्नुयात् | prāpnuyāt | would attain |
| पुण्य-कर्मणाम् | puṇya-karmaṇām | of the pious |