Bhagavad Gita BG 2.46
Chapter 2, Verse 46 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके । तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः ॥ ४६ ॥
yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ
Meaning
All purposes served by a small well can at once be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the ultimate truth.
Understanding
A beautiful analogy. When a great flood covers the land, the small wells become redundant — the water is everywhere. Similarly, one who has realised the ultimate truth (vijānataḥ — the true knower, the Brahmin who knows Brahman) has access to everything the Vedas point to, and more. The Vedas are like the small wells — useful, but superseded when one has the great reservoir of direct knowledge. This does not diminish the Vedas; it indicates their purpose is fulfilled when their ultimate teaching is realised.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उदपाने | udapāne | in a small well / in a reservoir |
| सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके | sarvataḥ samplutodake | when water floods on all sides / when a great flood covers everywhere |
| ब्राह्मणस्य | brāhmaṇasya | of the Brahmin / of the knower of Brahman |
| विजानतः | vijānataḥ | who knows / who understands (the ultimate truth) |
| यावान् | yāvān | as much / the purpose served |
| अर्थः | arthaḥ | purpose / use / value |
| तावान् | tāvān | that much / to that same extent |
| सर्वेषु | sarveṣu | in all (the Vedas) |
| वेदेषु | vedeṣu | in the Vedas |