Chapter 1 – Arjuna’s Despondency
Verse 46
Yadi, mam’, apratikaaram’, ashastrm’, shastrpaanyaH,
DhartrashtraH, rane, hanyuH, tat’, me, kshemtaram’, bhavet’ ||46||
Simple Meaning in English:
“Just as a small well is useful only to a limited extent when there is water available everywhere, in the same way, for a spiritually wise person (a Brahmana who knows the truth), the purpose of all the Vedas becomes limited — because he has realized their core essence.”
Explanation:
This shloka draws a comparison between spiritual knowledge (Self-realization) and the ritualistic teachings of the Vedas.
Lord Krishna is telling Arjuna that a truly wise person — one who has realized the Supreme Truth (Brahman) — no longer depends on or is bound by the external rituals and formalities laid down in the Vedas.
- Just as a small well becomes practically useless when there is abundant water everywhere,
- Similarly, when a person is immersed in true knowledge and Self-realization, the ritualistic portions of the Vedas (which are meant to guide one toward that goal) lose their importance.
A person who has already achieved moksha (liberation) or divine understanding doesn’t need to follow step-by-step ritual prescriptions because they have already reached the destination that rituals were meant to lead to.
Key Points:
- This verse emphasizes the supremacy of spiritual wisdom over ritualistic knowledge.
- A jnani (wise person) understands the inner meaning of religious duties and is free from external show or formalism.
- For a seeker, rituals have their place until Self-knowledge is attained. But for the realized soul, they become secondary or non-essential.
