Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of ActionKrishna
Verse 37
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 4, श्लोक 37
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा॥
Transliteration
Yatha-Idhamsi Samiddho'gnir Bhasma-Sat Kurute'rjuna.
Jnana-Agnih Sarva-Karmani Bhasma-Sat Kurute Tatha.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
यथाyathajust as
एधांसिedhamsifirewood
समिद्धःsamiddhahblazing
अग्निःagnihfire
भस्मसात्bhasma-satto ashes
कुरुतेkurutereduces
अर्जुनarjunaO Arjuna
ज्ञानाग्निःjnana-agnihfire of knowledge
सर्वकर्माणिsarva-karmaniall actions/karma
भस्मसात्bhasma-satto ashes
कुरुतेkurutereduces
तथाtathasimilarly
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे अर्जुन! जैसे प्रज्वलित अग्नि लकड़ियों को भस्म कर देती है, वैसे ही ज्ञान की अग्नि सम्पूर्ण कर्मों को भस्म कर देती है।
English Translation
Just as a blazing fire reduces firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all karma to ashes.
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna uses the powerful metaphor of fire consuming wood to illustrate how knowledge destroys all accumulated karma. Just as fire leaves nothing of the wood but ash, spiritual knowledge completely neutralizes the binding power of all past actions. This is one of the most reassuring verses for spiritual seekers, promising complete liberation from karmic bondage through wisdom.