Shloka 12

Gītā-sāra: The Self as Witness and the Inner Ascent into Brahman

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितं विद्वान्यो वेद स वरः कविः / अश्वमेधसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च / ज्ञानयज्ञस्य सर्वाणि कलां नार्हन्ति षोच्शीम्

Transliteration

kṣetrajñādhiṣṭhitaṃ vidvānyo veda sa varaḥ kaviḥ / aśvamedhasahasrāṇi vājapeyaśatāni ca / jñānayajñasya sarvāṇi kalāṃ nārhanti ṣocśīm

Translation

真正了知内住并主宰此身之“田知者”（Kṣetrajña，自我）者，是最殊胜的圣见者。纵有千次马祭（Aśvamedha）与百次婆阇佩耶祭（Vājapeya），亦不及智慧之祭（jñāna-yajña）十六分之一。

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितम्: presided over by the knower of the field
• क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक; अधि-स्था धातु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रज्ञेन अधिष्ठितम्)

• विद्वान्: a wise man
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (धातु) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• वेद: knows
• वेद: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वरः: excellent
• वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (सः)

• कविः: sage/poet
• कविः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अश्वमेधसहस्राणि: thousands of Aśvamedha sacrifices
• अश्वमेधसहस्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्वमेधानां सहस्राणि)

• वाजपेयशतानि: hundreds of Vājapeya rites
• वाजपेयशतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजपेय (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाजपेयानां शतानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ज्ञानयज्ञस्य: of the sacrifice of knowledge
• ज्ञानयज्ञस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव (ज्ञान एव यज्ञः / ज्ञानस्य यज्ञः)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (अश्वमेधसहस्राणि, वाजपेयशतानि)

• कलाम्: a fraction/part
• कलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अर्हन्ति: are worthy of; equal
• अर्हन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• षोडशीम्: the sixteenth part (full measure)
• षोडशीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (कलाम्—‘षोडशीं कलाम्’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing the kṣetrajña (indwelling Self) is the highest attainment; jñāna-yajña eclipses ritual sacrifices in spiritual value.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of Self-knowledge over karma-kāṇḍa; the witness (kṣetrajña) as the true ‘seer’ and the inner sacrifice as liberating.

Application: Balance ritual and ethics with inquiry: ‘Who is the knower in this body?’; prioritize study, contemplation, and direct insight; treat actions as supportive, not ultimate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.237.8-11 (method and fruit of knowledge leading to liberation)

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrajña (Ātman)
• Aśvamedha
• Vājapeya

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāna-yajña in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the inner sacrifice of knowledge—realizing the Kṣetrajña (Ātman) within—surpasses even the greatest Vedic rituals, emphasizing liberation-oriented wisdom over mere ritual accumulation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to the Kṣetrajña as the indwelling Self, it implies that lasting freedom for the soul comes through Self-knowledge; ritual merit is valuable but cannot match the transformative power of realizing the Ātman.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Along with performing dharmic duties, prioritize inner discipline—study, reflection, and meditation on the Self—so that actions become purifying and oriented toward mokṣa rather than only toward ritual results.