Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 26

Chapter 13 – Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते ।
तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः ॥

Transliteration

anye tvevamajānantaḥ śrutvānyebhya upāsate .
te.api cātitarantyeva mṛtyuṃ śrutiparāyaṇāḥ ॥

Meaning

Others, not knowing this by themselves, worship having heard it from others; they too, devoted to what they have heard, surely cross beyond death.

Word meanings

अन्ये – others
तु – but
एवम् – thus
अजानन्तः – not knowing
श्रुत्वा – having heard
अन्येभ्यः – from others, from teachers
उपासते – worship, meditate upon
ते – they
अपि – also
च – and
अतितरन्ति – cross beyond
एव – surely
मृत्युम् – death, the cycle of birth and death
श्रुतिपरायणाः – devoted to what they have heard as the highest refuge

Anvaya (word order)

अन्ये तु एवम् अजानन्तः अन्येभ्यः श्रुत्वा उपासते । ते अपि च श्रुतिपरायणाः मृत्युम् अतितरन्ति एव ।

Explanation

The previous verse named the paths of meditation, knowledge and action. But many people lack the capacity to pursue any of these independently, or to study the scriptures in depth. Is there hope for them? Krishna answers with compassion: yes. Those who, anyebhyah shrutva, having heard from teachers and saints, worship with faith, they too cross beyond death.

The word shruti-parayanah is important. It describes those who make what they have heard their highest support. This is not blind belief but genuine faith, trust in the teacher's words strong enough to shape one's whole life. In the Indian tradition hearing, shravana, is the first step of knowledge, followed by reflection, manana, and deep contemplation, nididhyasana. Hearing done with faith gradually ripens into reflection and direct experience.

Shankara says that such seekers, unable to discriminate for themselves yet worshipping with faith in the teacher's instruction, also cross the ocean of samsara in due course. Ramanuja too praises those who hear from the wise and worship with steadfastness, explaining that this worship gradually brings them to the vision of the Self. In 4.34 Krishna had already stressed approaching a teacher humbly, asking and listening.

This verse is a beautiful example of the Gita's inclusive vision. Liberation is not the preserve of scholars or yogis alone; an ordinary person of faith, holding firmly to true teaching, can reach the very same goal.

Context

Krishna is speaking to Arjuna. Verse 13.25 named the paths of meditation, Sankhya and Karma-yoga. This verse speaks of those who worship after hearing with faith. In 13.27 the Lord explains that every being is born from the union of the field and its knower.

Life lesson

Scholarship is not required; sincere faith is. Listening carefully to true saints and teachers and living by their words is itself a path to freedom. Good company and satsang can raise an ordinary person to extraordinary heights.

Key terms

Shruti-parayana: one who takes what has been heard as the highest refuge
Upasana: worship; steady, faithful contemplation of the Divine
Shravana: hearing the teaching from a guru; first step of knowledge
Mrityu: death; here the whole cycle of birth and death