(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

The Greatest Form Of Sacrifice Somebody Can Make Is Said To Be The Sacrifice Of Knowledge

अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयो: |
ज्ञानयज्ञेन तेनाहमिष्ट: स्यामिति मे मति: || 18.70||

adhyeṣhyate cha ya imaṁ dharmyaṁ saṁvādam āvayoḥ
jñāna-yajñena tenāham iṣhṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ|| 18.70||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 70:

And I declare that people who read this holy discourse of ours will serve Me (with their intellects) by sacrificing their knowledge; this is how I see it.

Explanation

Arjuna had heard Shree Krishna’s advice to give up his intellect several times. This does not suggest that we cease using our intellect; rather, it means that we use it as effectively as possible to carry out his desire for us. We can understand his will from the Bhagavad Gita’s message. People who study this precious dialogue thereby adore God with their minds.

Verse & what we can learn

After praising the teacher, Shri Krishna now praises the devoted Gita student. He uses the phrase “dharmyam samvaadam,” which translates to “a dialogue based on dharma,” to describe the teaching.

Now, if a serious student is qualified, he or she will get the same knowledge and understanding as Arjuna would through studying this exchange between Shri Krishna, the teacher, and Arjuna, the student.

When this occurs, a knowledge sacrifice known as a jnyaana yajnya occurs. The sacrifice of knowledge is thought to be the greatest kind of sacrifice somebody can make, as we saw in an earlier chapter. The highest form of sacrifice is then the study of the Gita.

Why do we make sacrifices or yajnyas? It is to make amends for the debt we owe to the natural world, the people who came before us, plants and animals, our instructors, and other living things. We present them with our prayers as well as other material gifts like clarified butter.

But when we offer a sacrifice of knowledge, we give up our uniqueness and finiteness in order to unite with the infinite Ishvara.

Such a sacrifice is made in isolation and goes beyond any thought of monetary offerings. Therefore, according to Shri Krishna, a Gita student holds a position equal to that of a supreme sacrificer. Furthermore, even someone who simply listened to the Gita without genuinely studying it or understanding its deeper significance would have benefited in some way.

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

In the next shloka Shri Krishna tells about those people who listen to this knowledge with faith.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…