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यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके। तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः।।2.46।।

yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake tāvānsarveṣhu vedeṣhu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 2, Verse 46
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
To the Brahmana who has known the Self, all the Vedas are of as much use as a reservoir of water would be in a place where there is a flood.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: comparing scripture, for someone who has realized the Self, to a small reservoir beside a flood, is Krishna relativizing his own teaching.

In life: even the most useful tools, books, systems, teachers, are meant to be outgrown, not clung to forever.

Teaching: hold your guides, including this text, as useful rather than final. The goal is what they point to, not the pointer itself.

yāvānwhatever
arthaḥpurpose
uda-pānea well of water
sarvataḥin all respects
sampluta-udakeby a large lake
tāvānthat many
sarveṣhuin all
vedeṣhuVedas
brāhmaṇasyaone who realizes the Absolute Truth
vijānataḥwho is in complete knowledge

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
2.46 यावान् as much? अर्थः use? उदपाने in a reservoir? सर्वतः everywhere? संप्लुतोदके being flooded? तावान्,so much (use)? सर्वेषु in all? वेदेषु in the Vedas? ब्राह्मणस्य of the Brahmana? विजानतः of the knowing.Commentary Only for a sage who has realised the Self? the Vedas are of no use? because he is in possession of the infinite knowledge of the Self. This does not? however? mean that the Vedas are useless. They are useful for the neophytes or the aspirants who have just started on the spiritual path.All the transient pleasures derivable from the proper performance of all actions enjoined in the Vedas are comprehended in the infinite bliss of Selfknowledge.