श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥
śreyān dravyamayād yajñāj jñānayajñaḥ parantapa |sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate ||
- श्रेयान् · śreyān
- better, higher
- द्रव्यमयात् · dravyamayāt
- than the material
- यज्ञात् · yajñāt
- than sacrifice
- ज्ञानयज्ञः · jñānayajñaḥ
- the sacrifice of knowledge
- परन्तप · parantapa
- O scorcher of foes
- सर्वम् · sarvam
- all
- कर्म · karma
- action
- अखिलम् · akhilam
- in its entirety
- पार्थ · pārtha
- O Partha
- ज्ञाने · jñāne
- in knowledge
- परिसमाप्यते · parisamāpyate
- culminates, finds fulfilment
“Better than material sacrifice is the sacrifice of knowledge, O scorcher of foes. All action in its entirety, O Partha, culminates in knowledge.”
— Original plain-language translation
The hierarchy crowns jñāna-yajña above offerings of goods — insight outshines ingredients. All doing ripens into knowing; action is the road, knowledge the arrival. This is the chapter's thesis in one line, developed through verse 42.
— Reader's notes (original)