Chapter 4, Verse 32
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे | कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ||४-३२||
evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe . karmajānviddhi tānsarvānevaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase ||4-32||
Meaning
4.32 Thus, manifold sacrifices are spread out before Brahman (literally) at the mouth or face of Brahman). Know them all as born of action and thus knowing, thou shalt be liberated.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna sums up the great survey of sacrifices. So many varied forms of yajña have been laid out, all sanctioned by the Vedas (brahmaṇo mukhe — at the very 'mouth' or source of sacred knowledge). He then makes a key point: know them all as karmaja — born of action, of the body, mind, and senses. None of these sacrifices acts upon the changeless Self; they are functions of the active nature.
Why does this matter? Because vimokṣyase — 'thus knowing, you shall be liberated.' To understand that all these works belong to the realm of action, while the true Self remains the untouched witness, is itself freeing. The variety of paths is honored, but the liberating insight is the same: recognize the doer and the deed as part of nature, and rest as the free awareness beyond them.
💡 Key Takeaway
All forms of sacred action belong to the realm of action; knowing this — and that the true Self stands beyond it — is liberating.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन | तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ||४-५||
śrībhagavānuvāca . bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna . tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṃ vettha parantapa ||4-5||
4.5 The Blessed Lord said Many births of Mine have passed as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know them all but thou knowest not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes).
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः | त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ||४-९||
janma karma ca me divyamevaṃ yo vetti tattvataḥ . tyaktvā dehaṃ punarjanma naiti māmeti so.arjuna ||4-9||
4.9 He who thus know, in their true light, My divine birth and action, having abandoned the body, is not born again, he comes to Me, O Arjuna.
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः | बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ||४-१०||
vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ . bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ ||4-10||
4.10 Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained to My Being.