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श्री
ह्रीं
क्लीं
गं
ऐं
क्रीं
हूं
सौं
दुं
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

Aligning Consciousness

Ch 4Verse 33
Adhyāya 4 Shloka 33

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञ: परन्तप | सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते || ३३ ||

śreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ parantapa | sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate || 33 ||

"O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is better than the mere sacrifice of material possessions. After all, O son of Pritha, all sacrifices of work culminate in transcendental knowledge."

Historical Context

The Direct Meaning

Having validated all forms of sacrifice, Krishna introduces a hierarchy. He declares: O chastiser of enemies (parantapa), the sacrifice of Knowledge (jñāna-yajñaḥ) is superior (śreyān) to the sacrifice composed merely of material possessions or wealth (dravya-mayād yajñāj). Why? He gives the ultimate philosophical reason: Because absolutely all actions in their entirety (sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ), O Partha, eventually culminate, dissolve, and reach their absolute perfection inside Knowledge (jñāne parisamāpyate).

Translated from the original Sanskrit text

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