Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 33
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप । सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते
śreyāndravyamayādyajñājjñānayajñaḥ parantapa | sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate
Translation
Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O harasser of thy foes. All action, without exception, O son of Pṛthā, is comprehended in wisdom.
— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri
Word meanings
- śreyān
- better
- dravyamayāt
- (than) made up of objects
- yajñāt
- than sacrifice
- jñānayajñaḥ
- of wisdom, the sacrifice
- parantapa
- O Parantapa
- sarvam
- all
- karma
- action
- akhilam
- without remainder
- pārtha
- O Pārtha
- jñāne
- in wisdom
- parisamāpyate
- is finished
Śaṅkarācārya's commentary
The sacrifice performed with material objects produces material effects, whereas wisdom-sacrifice does not. Wherefore wisdom-sacrifice is superior to the sacrifice performed with material objects. For wisdom, which is the means to mokṣa, comprehends all action.