Shloka 46
कर्मयोग–ज्ञानयज्ञ–अवतारोपदेश
Karma-Yoga, Jñāna-Yajña, and Avatāra Instruction
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके । तावान् सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मगस्प विजानत:
yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake | tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Assim como pouco serve um pequeno poço quando há água abundante por toda parte, assim pouco servem todos os Vedas para o brâmane que verdadeiramente conhece Brahman.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that direct realization of Brahman fulfills the ultimate aim toward which the Vedas point; once that end is reached, the multiplicity of scriptural injunctions and studies has only limited remaining utility—like a well when water is plentiful everywhere.
In Bhīṣma Parva, Sañjaya is reporting teachings that emphasize inner realization amid the war setting; here he conveys a maxim contrasting indirect means (scriptural learning) with the consummation (knowledge of Brahman).