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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Duty & actionChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge
4.294.31

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.30

Sacrifice, discipline and knowledge

Karma · Action

सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ।

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ ३० ॥

sarve ’py ete yajña-vido

yajña-kṣapita-kalmaṣāḥ

yajña-śiṣṭāmṛta-bhujo

yānti brahma sanātanam

Translation

All these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reactions, and, having tasted the nectar of the results of sacrifices, they advance toward the supreme eternal atmosphere.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Sacrifice and Eternal Life

  1. 1

    Those who understand sacrifice become free from sinful reactions, taste its nectar, and advance toward the supreme eternal atmosphere.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that all these sacrifices aim to control the senses. Sense gratification is the root cause of material existence.

  3. 3

    Practice sacrifice to control your senses and progress toward the eternal kingdom of God.

Key points from the purport

Summarizes the purpose of all sacrifices

goal mentioned in the Summarized Theme 4B

a

Common aim — To control the senses

Sense gratification is the root cause of material existence

b

Freedom from sinful reaction

c

Gain transcendental knowledge and gradually devotional service (4.33 purport)

d

One tastes the nectar in this life and the next — Happy in this life and later enters into Supreme eternal atmosphere – Kingdom of God

Further reading

Sacrifices Lead To Transcendental Knowledge

Fruit of all kinds of Vedic sacrifices is ‘transcendental knowledge’

This leads to liberation and ultimately to pure devotional service

Chapter 4, section IV: Sacrifices Lead To Transcendental Knowledge
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarveall
  2. apialthough apparently different
  3. etethese
  4. yajña-vidaḥconversant with the purpose of performing sacrifices
  5. yajña-kṣapitabeing cleansed as the result of such performances
  6. kalmaṣāḥof sinful reactions
  7. yajña-śiṣṭaof the result of such performances of yajña
  8. amṛta-bhujaḥthose who have tasted such nectar
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.30 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 4 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 4.25Sacrifice, discipline and knowledgeBG 4.26Sacrifice, discipline and knowledgeBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.21Leadership by example
Live this todayLearn Through Inquiry and ServiceA practice from BG 4.34, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction