Bhagavad Gita BG 4.33
Chapter 4, Verse 33 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज् ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप । सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥
shreyan dravyamayad yajnaj jnana-yajnah parantapa sarvam karmakhilam partha jnane parisamapyate
Meaning
The yajna of knowledge is superior to the yajna of material offerings, O scorcher of foes. All action in its entirety, O Partha, culminates in knowledge.
Understanding
The pinnacle of the yajna teaching: jnana-yajnah is shreyam (superior, more excellent) than dravyamaya-yajna (material sacrifice). Why? Because sarvam karmakhilam jnane parisamapyate — ALL action (sarvam, akhilam — wholly and completely) parisamapyate (culminates, reaches its completion, is fully resolved) in knowledge. Action done well, offered properly, purifies the mind until the mind becomes transparent to knowledge. Knowledge is not the opposite of action — it is action's destination.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| श्रेयान् | shreyan | superior, more excellent, better |
| द्रव्यमयात् | dravyamayat | than the material sacrifice |
| अखिलम् | akhilam | entirely, wholly, without remainder |
| परिसमाप्यते | parisamapyate | culminates, is fully resolved, reaches completion |
| ज्ञानयज्ञः | jñāna-yajñaḥ | the sacrifice of knowledge / the knowledge-yajna |
| परन्तप | parantapa | O scorcher of enemies (Arjuna) |
| सर्वम् | sarvam | all (action) |
| कर्म | karma | action / all actions |
| ज्ञाने | jñāne | in knowledge / in wisdom |