Chapter 2 · Verse 46

Transcendental Knowledge

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके। तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः

yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake tāvānsarveṣhu vedeṣhu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ

Word Meanings

yāvān — whatever; arthaḥ — purpose; uda-pāne — a well of water; sarvataḥ — in all respects; sampluta-udake — by a large lake; tāvān — that many; sarveṣhu — in all; vedeṣhu — Vedas; brāhmaṇasya — one who realizes the Absolute Truth; vijānataḥ — who is in complete knowledge

Language:

Translation

As much use as a small well serves when water floods everywhere, that much use do all the Vedas serve for the knower of Brahman.

Commentary

यावान् as much? अर्थः use? उदपाने in a reservoir? सर्वतः everywhere? संप्लुतोदके being flooded? तावान्,so much (use)? सर्वेषु in all? वेदेषु in the Vedas? ब्राह्मणस्य of the Brahmana? विजानतः of the knowing.Commentary Only for a sage who has realised the Self? the Vedas are of no use? because he is in possession of the infinite knowledge of the Self. This does not? however? mean that the Vedas are useless. They are useful for the neophytes or the aspirants who have just started on the spiritual path.All the transient pleasures derivable from the proper performance of all actions enjoined in the Vedas are comprehended in the infinite bliss of Selfknowledge.