nāyaḿ loko ’sty ayajñasya
kuto ’nyaḥ kuru-sattama

Translation

O best of the Kuru dynasty, without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life: what then of the next?

evaḿ bahu-vidhā yajñā
vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe
karma-jān viddhi tān sarvān
evaḿ jñātvā vimokṣyase

Translation

All these different types of sacrifice are approved by the Vedas, and all of them are born of different types of work. Knowing them as such, you will become liberated.

śreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj
jñāna-yajñaḥ paran-tapa
sarvaḿ karmākhilaḿ pārtha
jñāne parisamāpyate

Translation

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.

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaḿ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

Translation

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

yaj jñātvā na punar moham
evaḿ yāsyasi pāṇḍava
yena bhūtāny aśeṣāṇi
drakṣyasy ātmany atho mayi

Translation

Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.

api ced asi pāpebhyaḥ
sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛt-tamaḥ
sarvaḿ jñāna-plavenaiva
vṛjinaḿ santariṣyasi

Translation

Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.

yathaidhāḿsi samiddho ’gnir
bhasma-sāt kurute ’rjuna
jñānāgniḥ sarva-karmāṇi
bhasma-sāt kurute tathā

Translation

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.

na hi jñānena sadṛśaḿ
pavitram iha vidyate
tat svayaḿ yoga-saḿsiddhaḥ
kālenātmani vindati

Translation

In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.

śraddhāvāḻ labhate jñānaḿ
tat-paraḥ saḿyatendriyaḥ
jñānaḿ labdhvā parāḿ śāntim
acireṇādhigacchati

Translation

A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.

ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca
saḿśayātmā vinaśyati
nāyaḿ loko ’sti na paro
na sukhaḿ saḿśayātmanaḥ

Translation

But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.