Chapter 4: Jñāna Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Renunciation of Actions through Enlightenment: Verse 36
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्य: सर्वेभ्य: पापकृत्तम: ।
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥
api ced-asi pāpebhya: sarvebhya: pāpa-kṛttama:
sarvaṃ jñāna-plavenaiva vṛjinaṃ santariṣyasi – 4.36
Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners, by the raft of Knowledge you will cross the entire sea of sin.
Chapter 4: Jñāna Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Renunciation of Actions through Enlightenment - Verse 36
Ma Gurupriya
The success of any instruction lies in providing immediate relief, instilling hope and assurance the distressed mind and enquiring intelligence fondly look for.
Arjuna had confessed that he was under severe delusion about propriety. He wanted lasting felicity, śreyas. On the battlefield, engaged in war, how can he attain true inner, spiritual glory (2.7)?
Remembering Arjuna’s need, Krishna shapes his answer to give him immediate relief, hope and confidence. The best way to do so is by giving a personal promise, which has full relevance and fruition. Krishna is taking away all the sinfulness Arjuna feared, putting his mind into full ease and poise.
At the same time, Krishna’s words are applicable to one and all. Thereby the dialogue becomes general, its philosophy becomes the way of life. Kurukshetra symbolizes the world, with battle as the life in it. All are Arjunas, yearning for clarity and enlightenment.
