Jnana

Yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir bhasmasat kurute 'rjuna, jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha

As a blazing fire turns wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge burns all karmic reactions to ashes.

Jnanena tu tad ajnanam yesham nashitam atmanah, tesham aditya-vaj jnanam prakashayati tat param

But for those in whom this ignorance of the Self is destroyed by knowledge, that knowledge illuminates the Supreme like the sun reveals all things. Self-knowledge is the most powerful force — it dissolves the darkness of ignorance entirely.

Jnana-vijnana-tripta-atma kutastho vijitendriyah, yukta ity ucyate yogi sama-loshta-ashma-kancanah

The yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and realization, who is steady and has conquered the senses, and who regards a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as equal — such a person is said to be in yoga. True contentment comes from Self-knowledge, making external objects utterly equal in worth.

Tapasvibbhyo 'dhiko yogi jnanibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikah, karmibhyash cadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjuna

The yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the follower of the path of knowledge, and greater than the performer of rituals — therefore, O Arjuna, become a yogi. Krishna unequivocally declares yoga the supreme path, surpassing even tapas, jnana, and karma performed as mere ritual.

Jnanam te 'ham sa-vijnanam idam vakshyamy asheshatah, yaj jnatva neha bhuyo 'nyaj jnatavyam avashishyate

I shall declare to you in full this wisdom along with direct experiential knowledge, knowing which nothing else remains to be known in this world. Krishna distinguishes between theoretical knowledge (jnana) and realized wisdom (vijnana), promising to reveal both.

siddhim prapto yatha brahma tathapnoti nibodha me samasenaiva kaunteya nistha jnanasya ya para

Learn from me briefly how one who has attained siddhi also attains Brahman — the highest culmination of knowledge. Having described svadharma and devotional action, Krishna now pivots to the supreme culmination of jnana.