Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of ActionKrishna
Verse 2
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 4, श्लोक 2
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः।
स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप॥
Transliteration
Evam Parampara-Praptam-Imam Rajarshayo Viduh.
Sa Kalene-Ha Mahata Yogo Nashtah Parantapa.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
एवम्evamthus
परम्पराप्राप्तम्parampara-praptamreceived through succession
इमम्imamthis
राजर्षयःrajarshayahsaintly kings
विदुःviduhunderstood/knew
सःsahthat
कालेनkalenaby time
इहihain this world
महताmahatagreat (long passage of)
योगःyogahyoga
नष्टःnashtahlost/destroyed
परन्तपparantapaO scorcher of foes (Arjuna)
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
इस प्रकार परम्परा से प्राप्त इस योग को राजर्षियों ने जाना; परन्तु बहुत काल बीतने पर यह योग इस लोक में नष्ट हो गया, हे परन्तप!
English Translation
Thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, the saintly kings understood this yoga. But over the course of great time, this yoga was lost in the world, O Parantapa (Arjuna).
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna explains that this knowledge was passed down through a lineage of royal sages who practiced and preserved it. However, with the passage of vast stretches of time, the chain was broken and the pure knowledge was lost. This sets the context for why Krishna is now re-establishing this teaching through Arjuna.