Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 32

Chapter 4 – Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे ।
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe .
karmajānviddhi tānsarvānevaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase ॥

Meaning

Thus many kinds of sacrifice are set forth in detail in the words of the Veda. Know them all to be born of action; knowing this, you will be liberated.

Word meanings

एवम् – thus
बहुविधाः – of many kinds
यज्ञाः – sacrifices
वितताः – spread out, set forth in detail
ब्रह्मणः – of Brahman (the Veda)
मुखे – in the mouth, in the words
कर्मजान् – born of action
विद्धि – know
तान् – them
सर्वान् – all
ज्ञात्वा – having known
विमोक्ष्यसे – you will be liberated

Anvaya (word order)

एवं बहुविधाः यज्ञाः ब्रह्मणः मुखे वितताः । तान् सर्वान् कर्मजान् विद्धि; एवं ज्ञात्वा (त्वम्) विमोक्ष्यसे ।

Explanation

Having described many sacrifices from 4.25 to 4.30, Krishna now gives their essence. ‘Evam bahu-vidha yajna vitata brahmano mukhe’ — thus manifold sacrifices are spread out ‘in the mouth of Brahman’. Shankara takes ‘Brahman’ here to mean the Veda: all these sacrifices are taught by the words of the Veda; they are not invented practices. Some interpreters also understand the phrase to mean that these sacrifices are laid out as doorways to the attainment of Brahman.

Then Krishna makes an important statement: ‘karmajan viddhi tan sarvan’ — know them all to be born of action. According to Shankara, all these sacrifices arise from the activity of body, speech and mind, not from the Self, for the Self is by nature actionless and changeless. When the seeker knows, ‘these actions are not mine; I am the actionless Self beyond them’, he is freed from the bondage of worldly existence by this right knowledge.

Ramanuja reads ‘karmajan’ somewhat differently: all these sacrifices are bound up with the daily obligatory and occasional duties; that is, they are to be performed along with one's everyday responsibilities. One who performs them with this understanding attains the true nature of the Self and is liberated.

‘Evam jnatva vimokshyase’ — knowing thus, you will be freed. The emphasis falls on ‘jnatva’, knowing. Sacrifice by itself does not liberate; understanding its true meaning, and recognising the Self as the non-doer within it, is what liberates. This prepares the ground for the next verse, which declares the superiority of the sacrifice of knowledge.

Context

In 4.31 Krishna spoke of the fruit of partaking of the remnants of sacrifice and of the fault of not performing sacrifice. Here He gives the essence of all sacrifices: they are set forth in the Veda and are born of action, and knowing this truth brings liberation. In the next verse (4.33) He declares the sacrifice of knowledge superior to sacrifice performed with material things.

Life lesson

Good deeds are necessary, but so is the understanding that ‘I’ am not merely the doer. Do your work with full sincerity, but do not tie your identity to it; that understanding brings inner freedom.

Key terms

Brahmano mukhe: in the words of the Veda; as taught by scripture
Karmaja: born of the actions of body, speech and mind
Vimoksha: complete liberation from the bondage of worldly existence