veda

वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम्

veda — knows

One who knows it as imperishable, eternal, unborn and unchanging — how could such a person kill, or cause anyone to be killed?

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः

veda — understand

One person sees it as a wonder; another speaks of it as a wonder; another hears of it as a wonder — and even having heard, no one truly knows it.

यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः

veda-vāda-ratāḥ — attached to the flowery words of the Vedas

Those of small understanding speak flowery words, delighting in the letter of the scriptures, and say there is nothing more —

बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन

veda — know

Many births of mine have passed, Arjuna, and of yours. I know them all; you do not.

वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन

veda — know

I know all beings past, present and yet to come, Arjuna — but no one knows me.

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः

veda-vidaḥ — scholars of the Vedas

What those who know the Vedas call imperishable, what those free of craving enter, what the seekers of the holy life desire — that path I will declare to you briefly.

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः

veda-yajña — by performance of sacrifice

Not by study of the Vedas, not by offerings, not by giving, not by rites, not by severe austerity can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone but you.

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्

veda — knows

They speak of an imperishable sacred fig with its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedas. One who knows it knows.

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च

vedaiḥ — by the Vedas

And I am seated in the hearts of all. From me come memory and knowledge, and their loss. I am what is to be known through all the Vedas; I am the maker of their meaning, and the knower of them.