BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:37

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:37

 

yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir

bhasma-sat kurute 'rjuna

jnanagnih sarva-karmani

bhasma-sat kurute tatha

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

yatha- just as; edhamsi--firewood; samiddhah--blazing; agnih--fire;

bhasma-sat--ashes; kurute--turns; arjuna--O Arjuna; jnana-agnih--the

fire of knowledge; sarva-karmani--all reactions to material

activities; bhasma-sat--to ashes; kurute--it turns; tatha--similarly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire

of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.

 

PURPORT

 

Perfect knowledge of self and Superself and of their relationship is

compared herein to fire. This fire not only burns up all reactions to

impious activities, but also all reactions to pious activities,

turning them to ashes. There are many stages of reaction: reaction in

the making, reaction fructifying, reaction already achieved, and

reaction a priori. But knowledge of the constitutional position of the

living entity burns everything to ashes. When one is in complete

knowledge, all reactions, both a priori and a posteriori, are

consumed. In the Vedas (Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad 4.4.22) it is stated,

ubhe uhaivaisa ete taraty amrtah sadhv-asadhuni: "One overcomes both

the pious and impious reactions of work."

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.