FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 13.26

अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्त: श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते । तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणा: ॥ २६ ॥
anye tv evam ajānantaḥ
[anye tv evam ajaanantah]
śrutvānyebhya upāsate
[shrutvaanyebhya upaasate]
te ’pi cātitaranty eva
[te ’pi chaatitaranty eva]
mṛtyuṁ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ
[mrityum shruti-paraayanaah]
Word-for-word
anye — others tu — but evam — thus ajānantaḥ — without spiritual knowledge śrutvā — by hearing anyebhyaḥ — from others upāsate — begin to worship te — they api — also ca — and atitaranti — transcend eva — certainly mṛtyum — the path of death śruti - parāyaṇāḥ — inclined to the process of hearing .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
anye tv evam ajānantaḥ
anye
others
tu
but
evam
thus
ajānantaḥ
without spiritual knowledge
śrutvānyebhya upāsate
śrutvā
by hearing
anyebhyaḥ
from others
upāsate
begin to worship
te ’pi cātitaranty eva
te
they
api
also
ca
and
atitaranti
transcend
eva
certainly
mṛtyuṁ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ
mṛtyum
the path of death
śruti - parāyaṇāḥ
inclined to the process of hearing .
Important Words
  • ajānantaḥ — without spiritual knowledge
    Present participle. Kṛṣṇa specifically honors those who *do not* possess prior knowledge. Hearing is not a consolation prize — it is a complete path in its own right.
  • śrutvā — by hearing
    Gerund from √śru. The first of the navadhā-bhakti list. The Vedānta literature calls itself śruti for this reason — what is *heard* carries the tradition.
  • anyebhyaḥ — from others
    Ablative plural. From sādhus, from the guru, from devotees. The *source* of hearing matters. Anyebhyaḥ implicitly requires that the others be authentic — hearing from anyone is not the path; hearing from devotees is.
  • upāsate — begin to worship
    Upa- + √ās — "sitting near, attending upon." Hearing is not passive consumption; it becomes upāsana, devotional service. The faithful hearer becomes the worshiper.
  • atitaranti — transcend
    Ati- + √tṝ — "to cross over." The same root as tīrtha (a crossing-place). Hearing is itself a tīrtha; the listener crosses the ocean of birth and death by audition alone.
  • śruti - parāyaṇāḥ — inclined to the process of hearing
    Compound: śruti (hearing) + parāyaṇa (devoted, given over to). The whole life-orientation is hearing. This is a vocation, not a hobby.
Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
And those who cannot meditate, analyze, or perform yoga of action — but who hear from authorities and worship accordingly — they too cross death. Faithful hearing is itself a complete path. No serious aspirant is excluded.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
A remarkable opening: sruti-parāyaṇāḥ (those who make hearing their refuge) attain the same goal as the meditators and analysts of v. 25. This is the seed of the entire śravaṇa-tradition in Vaiṣṇava sādhana. The stress is not on independent realization but on faithfully receiving and acting on transmitted teaching. Cross-ref: BG 4.34 (paripraśnena…upadekṣyanti) and 18.55 (bhaktyā mām abhijānāti).
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
अन्ये तु एवम् अजानन्तः अन्येभ्यः श्रुत्वा उपासते । ते श्रुति-परायणाः अपि च मृत्युम् अतितरन्ति एव ॥
anye tu evam ajānantaḥ anyebhyaḥ śrutvā upāsate | te śruti-parāyaṇāḥ api ca mṛtyum atitaranti eva ||
Others, however, not knowing this directly, take to worship having heard from others; they too, devoted to what they have heard, indeed cross beyond death.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अन्ये तु एवम् अजानन्तः श्रुत्वा अन्येभ्यः उपासते । ते अपि च अतितरन्ति एव मृत्युं श्रुति-परायणाः ॥
anye tu evam ajānantaḥ śrutvā anyebhyaḥ upāsate | te api ca atitaranti eva mṛtyuṃ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अन्ये anye अन्य (adj.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. others
तु tu ind. (indeclinable) however / but
एवम् evam ind. (indeclinable) in this way
अजानन्तः ajānantaḥ अ + √ज्ञा pres. (present)part. nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. not knowing
श्रुत्वा śrutvā √श्रु abs. (ktvā) having heard
अन्येभ्यः anyebhyaḥ अन्य (adj.) abl.pl. (ablative plural)m. from others
उपासते upāsate उप+√आस् pres. (present) 3pl.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) they worship / cultivate
ते te तद् pron. (pronoun) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. they
अपि api ind. (indeclinable), emphatic also
च ca ind. (indeclinable) and
अतितरन्ति atitaranti अति+√तॄ pres. (present) 3pl.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) they cross over
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic indeed
मृत्युम् mṛtyum मृत्यु (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) death
श्रुति-परायणाः śruti-parāyaṇāḥ श्रुति (f.) + परायण (adj.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) intent on what is heard
Purport

This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly, the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
26. Others who perform worship, though not knowing, but hearing from others, also surpass death, being intent on hearing.
Commentary

Others, who worship Paramātmā, hearing talks from various sources, also surpass death.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
26. Others with faith in the Vedas, though not knowing these methods, hear about them from others, and then worship Me. They also surpass death.
Commentary

Others, though not knowing these methods, having faith in hearing the topics of the Veda (śruti parāyaṇāḥ), are thus qualified. Hearing those methods from speakers of the methods (anyebhyaḥ), they worship that great Lord. Even they, from that association (ca), gradually, after understanding and practicing (ca), definitely (eva) surpass death. The great power of hearing the subject of the Lord is here shown.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

'They transcend', why? Because they hear with faith. That is what means to hear from authorities ‑ to hear with faith and without any material desires. Therefore, just by that process of hearing with faith, without material desires, they will attain liberation, they will transcend the path of birth and death. (DS) For those who cannot cultivate knowledge or practice yoga, or renunciation of the fruits of work, in order to attain the Supersoul, for them an alternative is given herein: 'just by hearing of Him from authorities.

[F. JNANA CAKSUSA: THE VISION OF KNOWLEDGE (13. 27‑35) 1. Everything that we see is a combination of the field and the knower of the field. (27) ]

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Bhakti is the easiest and the best path to understand this science

This verse talks about those who, although not conversant with spiritual knowledge:
They begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about him from others
Because of tendency to hear, they also transcend the path of birth and death
Conclusion: Hearing with faith from authorities has great potency
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
13.26 Anye tu, others again; ajanantah, who do not know the Self as described above; evam, thus, even in one of these alternative ways; upasate, take to thinking, take to reflection, being imbued with faith; srutva, after hearing; anyhyah, from others, from the teachers, having been told, 'Think only of this.' Te api ca, they, too; sruti-parayanah, who are devoted to hearing, to whom hearing is the supreme course, the best discipline for starting on the path to Liberation, i.e., those who, themselves lacking in discrimination, accept only others' advice as most authoritative; eva, certainly; ati-taranti, overcome; mrtyum, death, i.e. the mundane existence which is fraught with death. The implication is; It goes without saying that those discriminating people who are idenpendent in the application of the valid means of knowledge, cross over death. That the knowledge of the identity of the Knower of the field and God leads to Liberation has been stated in, '৷৷.by realizing which one attains Immortality' (12). For what reason is it so? To point out that reason the (next) verse is begun:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
13.26 But some, namely, those who are not alified for Karma Yoga etc., for realising the self, listen to Jnanins who know the truth, and meditate on the self through Karma Yoga, etc. - they too pass beyond death. It means that those who are devoted to what they hear only, even they, intent on hearing and devoid of evils, begin in due course, the practice of Karma Yoga etc., and pass beyond death. By the term 'too' (api), the difference in levels is made out. Now, in order to teach the contemplation on the distinctness of the self conjoined with the Prakrti, he says that all entities, movables and immovables, are the product of combination between the conscient and the non-conscient:
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
13.25-26 Dhyanena etc., Anye etc. A knowledge of this sort is the main. [For this end] some practise religious meditation of the Self as Self; others [try] by means of the Sankhya (knowledge) mentioned already (Ch. V, 5ff), while still others [strive] through action. Still others, bent upon hearing [from the preceptors etc.] practise the religious meditation as they have heard, even though they do not themselves know, (have) the knowledge of this kind. They too cross over the death, i.e., the cycyle of birth and death. What is conveyed here is this : The category Bhagavat, if mentally reflected upon by one means or the other, does transport across [the ocean of death circle]. Therefore , let one remain in this fashion by all means.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
13.26 Others also, not knowing thus, worship, having heard of It from others; they, too, cross beyond death, regarding what they have heard as the Supreme refuge.
Commentary

13.26 अन्ये others? तु indeed? एवम् thus? अजानन्तः not knowing? श्रुत्वा having heard? अन्येभ्यः from others? उपासते worship? ते they? अपि also? च and? अतितरन्ति cross beyond? एव even? मृत्युम् death? श्रुतिपरायणाः regarding what they have heard as the Supreme refuge.Commentary The three paths? viz.? the Yoga of meditation? the Yoga of knowledge? and the Yoga of action to attain the knowledge of the Self were described in the previous verse. In this verse the Yoga of worship is described.Some who are ignorant of the methods described in the previous verse listen to the teachings of the spiritual preceptors regarding this great Truth or the Self with intense and unshakable faith? solely depending upon the authority of others instructions? and through constant remembrance and contemplation of them attain immortality. They are devoted to their preceptor. Some study the books written by realised seers? stick with great faith to the teachings contained therein and live according to them. They also overcome death. Whichever path one follows? one eventually attains the knowledge of the Self and final liberation from birth and death? -- salvation (Moksha). There are several paths to suit aspirants of different temperaments and eipments.Freeing oneself from ignorance with its effects through the knowledge of the Self? is crossing the Samsara or attaining immortality or overcoming death or obtaining release or salvation.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
13.26 Others, agian, who do not know thus, take to thinking after hearing from others; they, too, who are devoted to hearing, certainly overcome death.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
13.26 Others again, having no direct knowledge but only hearing from others, nevertheless worship, and they, too, if true to the teachings, cross the sea of death.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 18.55 BG 4.34 BG 9.32 SB 1.2.17 SB 2.1.5 SB 3.25.25 CC Madhya 22.107 CC Madhya 9.262 CC Antya 4.71 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 2.4.5BRS 1.2.265
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Others, hearing about the Supreme from others, begin to worship Him — they too cross beyond birth and death by faithful hearing.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize hearing as a complete path on its own.
  • Don't disqualify yourself if you can't meditate or philosophize — hear.
  • Cultivate śravaṇam as primary practice.
Reflection Questions
  • What is my śravaṇam discipline?
  • What would deepening hearing offer?
Analogy

A man too weak to climb the mountain himself sits by the road and listens, as travelers returning from the summit describe the view. By the end of many evenings he can sketch the summit better than some who climbed. Hearing alone has carried him. So the simple soul, hearing of Kṛṣṇa from devotees, transcends death.

Stories
Parīkṣit hears the Bhāgavatam

Cursed to die within seven days, Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat by the Ganges and heard the Bhāgavatam from Śukadeva Gosvāmī. He did not meditate. He did not philosophize. He listened.

At the appointed hour, when the snake-bird Takṣaka came, Parīkṣit's mind was so absorbed in hari-kathā that death had nothing to take. The Bhāgavatam frames its entire structure around this listener. Śravaṇa alone, the verse promises, ferries the soul across mṛtyu — and Parīkṣit's seven days are the demonstration.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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