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Shloka 42

Dharma, Purity, and the Inner Purpose of the Vedas

Karma-kāṇḍa Reoriented to Bhakti

किं विधत्ते किमाचष्टे किमनूद्य विकल्पयेत् । इत्यस्या हृदयं लोके नान्यो मद् वेद कश्चन ॥ ४२ ॥

kiṁ vidhatte kim ācaṣṭe kim anūdya vikalpayet ity asyā hṛdayaṁ loke nānyo mad veda kaścana

ବେଦବିଦ୍ୟାର ଗୁପ୍ତ ହୃଦୟ—‘ଏହା କ’ଣ ବିଧାନ କରେ, କ’ଣ କହେ, କାହାକୁ ଅନୁବାଦ/ପୁନରୁକ୍ତି କରି କାହାର ବିକଳ୍ପ ଦେଉଛି?’—ଏହାକୁ ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ମୋ ବ୍ୟତୀତ ଅନ୍ୟ କେହି ସତ୍ୟରେ ଜାଣେ ନାହିଁ।

kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/object of vidhatte)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative pronoun used adverbially ('what?')
vidhattearranges, ordains
vidhatte:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√dhā (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada; 3rd person Singular
kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/object of ācaṣṭe)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; interrogative used adverbially
ācaṣṭedeclares, tells
ācaṣṭe:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā√cakṣ (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada; 3rd person Singular
kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/object of vikalpayet)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; interrogative used adverbially
anūdyahaving repeated/recited
anūdya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootanu√vad (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्); avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having repeated/recited'
vikalpayetmight imagine/construct alternatives
vikalpayet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√kḷp (धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (Optative), Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)
asyāḥof this
asyāḥ:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; refers to 'this (speech/śruti)'
hṛdayamthe heart/essence
hṛdayam:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Roothṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject
lokein the world
loke:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; location/context
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; niṣedha (negation particle)
anyaḥanother (person)
anyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootanya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of veda
matthan me / from me
mat:
Apādāna (अपादान/standard of comparison)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormAblative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; enclitic form 'mat' = 'from me/than me' (comparative)
vedaknows
veda:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vid (धातु)
FormLiṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular; present-sense 'knows'
kaścanaanyone at all
kaścana:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkaścana (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; indefinite pronoun

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Truth, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Since the Lord is the source, maintainer and ultimate goal of Vedic knowledge, He is veda-vit, or the only true knower of Vedic knowledge. So-called philosophers, either Vedic scholars or ordinary men, may give their sectarian opinion, but it is the Lord Himself who knows the confidential purpose of the Vedas. The Lord is the only actual shelter and lovable object for all living entities. As He states in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (10.41) :

K
Krishna
U
Uddhava

FAQs

This verse states that the deepest intention of Vedic statements—what is command, declaration, repetition, or option—is ultimately known fully by Bhagavan Krishna alone.

In the context of explaining diverse Vedic paths and their apparent complexities, Krishna emphasizes that the final, unified purport is centered in Him, and thus He is the ultimate authority on their conclusion.

Instead of getting lost in conflicting rules and options, one should seek the Bhagavata’s conclusion—devotional service to Krishna—while learning scripture under genuine guidance that aligns with that purpose.