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Bhagavad-gītā 4.38

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते । तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥ ३८ ॥
na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ
[na hi jnaanena sadrisham]
pavitram iha vidyate
[pavitram iha vidyate]
tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ
[tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah]
kālenātmani vindati
[kaalenaatmani vindati]
Word-for-word
na — nothing hi — certainly jñānena — with knowledge sadṛśam — in comparison pavitram — sanctified iha — in this world vidyate — exists tat — that svayam — himself yoga — in devotion saṁsiddhaḥ — he who is mature kālena — in course of time ātmani — in himself vindati — enjoys .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ
na
nothing
hi
certainly
jñānena
with knowledge
sadṛśam
in comparison
pavitram iha vidyate
pavitram
sanctified
iha
in this world
vidyate
exists
tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ
tat
that
svayam
himself
yoga
in devotion
saṁsiddhaḥ
he who is mature
kālenātmani vindati
kālena
in course of time
ātmani
in himself
vindati
enjoys .
Important Words
  • jñānena — with knowledge
    Instrumental of jñāna — 'by means of knowledge.' Same word the whole chapter has been building toward. Here it is the *standard of comparison* — nothing equals it.
  • sadṛśam — equal
    From sa + dṛś — 'of the same appearance.' Negated by na: 'nothing equal.' Sanskrit's way of naming uniqueness: not by saying 'highest' but by saying 'no peer.'
  • pavitram — purifying
    From √pū — 'to purify.' Neuter. Knowledge is the purifier without peer. The Vedas list many pavitras (rivers, mantras, fires); the verse claims the absolute summit for jñāna.
  • saṁsiddhaḥ — perfectly accomplished
    Past passive participle of sam + √sidh — 'thoroughly accomplished.' Paired with yoga — yoga-saṁsiddha, the yoga-perfected. The fruit (jñāna) ripens only in such a one. The verse refuses to detach jñāna from yoga's discipline; one matures, the other arrives.
  • kālena — in time
    Instrumental of kāla — 'by time.' Same word as in 4.2 (kāleneha mahatā) but inverse function. There, time corrupted the chain; here, time ripens the fruit. Time is neutral; the *practice's quality* decides whether time corrupts or matures.
  • ātmani — in himself
    Locative — 'within his own self.' The knowledge is found internally, not in books or teachers (which are channels, not loci). The yoga-perfected one becomes the site of his own jñāna.
  • vindati — finds, discovers
    Third-person singular of √vid — 'to find.' Same root as veda. The form is not 'is given' or 'receives' but *vindati* — actively finds. Discovery, not delivery.
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.
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)
Knowledge is named the supreme purifier — no other instrument matches it. And it is not granted from outside but discovered within: the one ripened by yoga finds it, in due time, within his own ātman.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
पवित्रम् (purifier) connects this jñāna-mahimā to the homa-yajña vocabulary. कालेन acknowledges that even mature seekers wait: realization unfolds in its own time. आत्मनि विन्दति (finds within the self) reframes the whole external paramparā sequence (4.1–2) as ultimately interiorized. Cross-ref Muṇḍaka 3.2.3.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
इह ज्ञानेन सदृशम् पवित्रम् हि न विद्यते; योग-संसिद्धः (साधकः) तत् कालेन स्वयम् आत्मनि विन्दति।
iha jñānena sadṛśam pavitram hi na vidyate; yoga-saṃsiddhaḥ (sādhakaḥ) tat kālena svayam ātmani vindati|
In this world there is no purifier equal to knowledge; one who is perfected in yoga finds it of himself, in time, within the self.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशम् पवित्रम् इह विद्यते । तत् स्वयम् योग-संसिद्धः कालेन आत्मनि विन्दति ॥
na hi jñānena sadṛśam pavitram iha vidyate | tat svayam yoga-saṃsiddhaḥ kālena ātmani vindati ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
न na ind. (indeclinable), negation not
हि hi ind. (indeclinable), emphatic indeed
ज्ञानेन jñānena ज्ञान (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) with knowledge
सदृशम् sadṛśam सदृश (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. equal
पवित्रम् pavitram पवित्र (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) purifier
इह iha ind. (indeclinable), 'here' in this world
विद्यते vidyate √विद् pass. (passive) pres. (present) 3sg. exists, is found
तत् tat तद् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) acc.sg. (accusative singular)n. that (knowledge)
स्वयम् svayam ind. (indeclinable), reflexive by himself
योग-संसिद्धः yoga-saṃsiddhaḥ योग + संसिद्ध (p.p.p. (past passive participle)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) one perfected in yoga
कालेन kālena काल (m.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by / in time
आत्मनि ātmani आत्मन् (m.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in the self
विन्दति vindati √विद् pres. (present) 3sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) finds
Purport

When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of spiritual understanding. As such, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Ignorance is the cause of our bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation. This knowledge is the mature fruit of devotional service, and when one is situated in transcendental knowledge, he need not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within himself. In other words, this knowledge and peace culminate in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the last word in the Bhagavad-gītā.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
38. In this world there is nothing as pure as knowledge. After some time it is attained of itself from within, through practice of niṣkāma-karma-yoga.
Commentary

In this world, among those who engage in austerities, yoga and other processes, there is nothing to compare to knowledge. That knowledge is not easily attained by everyone, but is fully attained (sam siddhaḥ) [Note: Sam stands for samyak, meaning “completely”.] by practicing niṣkāma-karma-yoga. It is not unobtainable, but is attained in time, not immediately. That knowledge is attained spontaneously within the self (ātmāni), not by accepting external sannyāsa.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
38. As in this world there is nothing as pure as knowledge, after some time, through the maturation of niṣkāma karma yoga, it is attained of itself from within.
Commentary

Because (hi) nothing (such as going to holy places or austerity) purifies as much as knowledge, this knowledge which destroys all sin is not easily available for all people. This knowledge, attained through maturity of niṣkāma karma yoga (yoga saṁsiddhaḥ), with time, not immediately, is attained in the ātmā on its own, not by just accepting saṁnyāsa or other external means.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

The word "kalena" means 'in due course of time'. Krsna puts this word in the verse because Arjuna wanted to renounce. And this is a warning to those who want to renounce and take sannyasi thinking that just by superficially adopting the outward garb and become a renunciate, they will be factually renounced and full of transcendental knowledge. For this reason, Krsna uses the word "kalena", by niskama karma 'in due course of time' one will actually enjoy this knowledge within. Not by just taking sannyasi and renouncing work.

[ 3 . Who can achieve: One who has faith can acquire transcendental knowledge; one who doubts cannot. (39‑40) ]

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

Kālena means “in course of time.” Kṛṣṇa uses the word kālena to warn against premature renuncia-

tion—simply adopting the outer garb of a sannyāsī, as is sometimes done by Māyāvādīs—as if that

will automatically fix us in knowledge and free us of sin. Kṛṣṇa also uses the term kālena to encour-

age detached work, which truly bestows transcendental knowledge. “In course of time” indicates

that transcendental knowledge is gradually revealed in the heart of one practicing niṣkāma-karma-

yoga. By work, not by renouncing work, it manifests.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
4.38 Hi, indeed; na vidyate, there is nothing; pavitram, purifying, sanctifying; iha, here; sadrsam, comparable; jnanena, to Knowledge. Yoga-samsiddhah, one who has become perfected, who as attained fitness through yoga-the seeker after Liberation who has become samsiddhah, purified, qualified; yogena, through the yoga of Karma and the yoga of concentration-; kalena, after a long time; vindati, realizes, i.e. attains; tat, That, Knowledge; verily svayam, by himself; atmani, in his own heart. That means by which Knowledge is invariably attained is being taught:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
4.38 Nothing here in this world purifies like this knowledge; for the knowledge of the self destroys all evil. He who has reached perfection by practising Karma Yoga in its form of knowledge daily in the manner taught, in due time, of his own accord, attaints it, i.e., knowledge concerning his own self. Sri Krsna expounds the same lucidly thus:
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
4.38 Na hi etc. There exists no purifier similar to the knowledge. The purity of other things is due to the touch of Consciousness and is not intrinsic. This point is not elaborated here for fear of a lengthy discussion. This purifying nature of the knowledge, one would understand for himself on reaching the stage of being perfectly enlightened.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
4.38 Verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. He who is perfected in Yoga finds it in the Self in time.
Commentary

4.38 न not? हि verily? ज्ञानेन to wisdom? सदृशम् like? पवित्रम् pure? इह here (in this world)? विद्यते is? तत् that? स्वयम् oneself? योगसंसिद्धः perfected in Yoga? कालेन in time? आत्मनि in the Self? विन्दति finds.Commentary There exists no purifier eal to knowledge of the Self. He who has attained perfection by the constant practice of Karma Yoga and Dhyana Yoga (the Yoga of meditation) will? after a time? find the knowledge of the Self in himself.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
4.38 Indeed, there is nothing purifying here comparable to Knowledge. One who has become perfected after a (long) time through yoga, realizes That by himself in his own heart.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
4.38 There is nothing in the world so purifying as wisdom; and he who is a perfect saint finds that at last in his own Self.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 9.2 BG 7.1 BG 18.55 SB 3.25.25 SB 1.2.21 SB 11.14.26 CC Madhya 22.31 CC Madhya 24.87 CC Antya 7.11 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.8Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.21
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
There is nothing as sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge — one perfect in yoga finds it within himself in time.
Practical Applications
  • Treat knowledge of the soul as the highest treasure.
  • Cultivate yoga as the ground in which knowledge ripens.
  • Be patient — knowledge unfolds in time, not on demand.
Reflection Questions
  • What has 'in time' meant for my own ripening?
  • Where am I impatient with the ripening?
Analogy

A fruit ripens only in its season — neither earlier from forced heat nor by impatience. Yoga's mature fruit is jñāna; the verse names it as the *highest* purifier. One who has become accomplished in yoga discovers this fruit *within himself*, in time. The within-ness and the in-time-ness are both essential.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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