Bhagavad Gita BG 2.42
Chapter 2, Verse 42 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः । वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः ॥ ४२ ॥
yām imāṃ puṣpitāṃ vācaṃ pravadanty avipaścitaḥ veda-vāda-ratāḥ pārtha nānyad astīti vādinaḥ
Meaning
O Partha, men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, and so on.
Understanding
Krishna makes a remarkable statement: those with limited wisdom ('avipaścitaḥ' — those who are not truly wise) are attached to the 'puṣpitām vācam' — the flowery, elaborate language of portions of the Vedas that promise heavenly rewards for rituals and sacrifices. They say 'nānyad asti' — there is nothing else (beyond these rewards). This is 'veda-vāda-rati' — enjoyment of the Vedic letter without its spirit. The Gita consistently points beyond ritual-for-reward to the deeper purpose of the Vedas.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| पुष्पिताम् वाचम् | puṣpitām vācam | flowery speech / elaborate, ornate language |
| अविपश्चितः | avipaścitaḥ | those who are not truly wise / men of small knowledge |
| वेदवादरताः | veda-vāda-ratāḥ | attached to the letter/words of the Vedas |
| नान्यत् अस्ति | nānyat asti | there is nothing else |
| वादिनः | vādinaḥ | those who say / who declare |
| याम् इमाम् | yām imām | this which / that flowery (speech) |
| प्रवदन्ति | pravadanti | speak / utter / proclaim |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Partha (Arjuna) |
| इति | iti | thus (quotation marker — "there is nothing else") |