HomeBhagavad GitaCh. 11Shloka 53
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Shloka 53

Vishwarupa Darshana YogaVishwarupa Darshana Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 53 illustration

नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया । शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ॥ ११.५३ ॥

nāhaṁ vedair na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā | śakya evaṁvidho draṣṭuṁ dṛṣṭavān asi māṁ yathā || 11.53 ||

เราไม่อาจถูกเห็นในรูปเช่นนี้ได้ด้วยพระเวท มิใช่ด้วยตบะ มิใช่ด้วยทาน และมิใช่ด้วยยัญพิธี—ดังที่เจ้ามองเห็นเราแล้วเช่นนั้น

Not by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by charity, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in this form as you have seen Me.

Not by the Vedas, nor by ascetic heat, nor by giving, nor by worship-sacrifice can I be seen in such a manner as you have seen me.

Compared with 11.48, the list is compressed and more categorical; ‘ijyā’ can be rendered ‘sacrificial worship’ or ‘ritual adoration,’ with little change to the overall thrust.

not
:
Root
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
Rootअस्मद्
वेदैःby the Vedas (by Vedic study/knowledge)
वेदैः:
Karana
Rootवेद
not
:
Root
तपसाby austerity
तपसा:
Karana
Rootतपस्
not
:
Root
दानेनby charity/giving
दानेन:
Karana
Rootदान
not
:
Root
and
:
Root
इज्ययाby worship/sacrificial ritual
इज्यया:
Karana
Rootइज्या
शक्यःpossible (able to be)
शक्यः:
Rootशक्य
एवम्thus/in this manner
एवम्:
Rootएवम्
विधःof such a kind/form
विधः:
Rootविध
द्रष्टुम्to see
द्रष्टुम्:
Rootदृश्
दृष्टवान्(you) have seen
दृष्टवान्:
Rootदृश्
असिyou are / you have (auxiliary with participle)
असि:
Rootअस्
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
Rootअस्मद्
यथाas/in the way that
यथा:
Rootयथा
Krishna
Critique of ritualismGraceMeans of knowledge
Insufficiency of external means alonePrimacy of inner relationReframing religious authority

FAQs

The verse discourages a purely transactional spirituality (effort → guaranteed result), supporting a more relational and transformative model.

It implies that ultimate disclosure is not reducible to textual authority or ritual performance; it involves a direct encounter that exceeds ordinary epistemic routes.

It sets up the explicit conclusion in 11.54: exclusive devotion is the means to truly know, see, and ‘enter’ the divine reality.

It can be applied as a caution against substituting credentials or external observances for genuine ethical and contemplative transformation.