BHAGAVAD-GITA 11:53

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 11:53

 

naham vedair na tapasa

na danena na cejyaya

sakya evam-vidho drastum

drstavan asi mam yatha

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

na--never; aham--I; vedaih--by study of the Vedas; na--never;

tapasa--by serious penances; na--never; danena--by charity; na--never;

ca--also; ijyaya--by worship; sakyah--it is possible;

evam-vidhah--like this; drastum--to see; drstavan--seeing; asi--you

are; mam--Me; yatha--as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be

understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious

penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means

that one can see Me as I am.

 

PURPORT

 

Krsna first appeared before His parents Devaki and Vasudeva in a

four-handed form, and then He transformed Himself into the two-handed

form. This mystery is very difficult to understand for those who are

atheists or who are devoid of devotional service. For scholars who

have simply studied Vedic literature by way of grammatical knowledge

or mere academic qualifications, Krsna is not possible to understand.

Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go to the temple

to offer worship. They make their visit, but they cannot understand

Krsna as He is. Krsna can be understood only through the path of

devotional service, as explained by Krsna Himself in the next verse.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.