In Bhagavad Gita 4.32, Krishna says that many kinds of sacrifice are spread before Brahman; know them all to be born of action, and knowing this, you will be liberated.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा
वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वान्
एवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥ ४-३२ ॥
evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā
vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe
karmajānviddhi tānsarvān
evaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase
English transliteration evam bahuvidhaa yajnaa
vitataa brahmano mukhe
karmajaanviddhi taansarvaan
evam jnaatvaa vimokshyase ॥ 4.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus many kinds of sacrifice are spread out before Brahman. Know them all to be born of action; knowing this, you will be liberated.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | thus |
| बहुविधाः bahuvidhāḥ | of many kinds bahu (many) + vidhāḥ (kinds) |
| यज्ञाः yajñāḥ | sacrifices |
| वितताः vitatāḥ | spread out |
| ब्रह्मणः brahmaṇaḥ | of Brahman (the Veda) |
| मुखे mukhe | in the mouth, before |
| कर्मजान् karmajān | born of action karma (action) + jān (born) |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| तान् tān | them |
| सर्वान् sarvān | all |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | knowing |
| विमोक्ष्यसे vimokṣyase | you will be liberated |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–vaṃ ba–hu–vi–dhā ya–jñā 8 syllables e-vam ba-hu-vi-dhaa ya-jnaa
- vi–ta–tā brah–ma–ṇo mu–khe | 8 syllables vi-ta-taa brah-ma-no mu-khe
- kar–ma–jān–vid–dhi tān–sar–vān– 8 syllables kar-ma-jaan-vid-dhi taan-sar-vaan-
- e–vaṃ jñāt–vā vi–mokṣ–ya–se || 4-32 8 syllables e-vam jnaat-vaa vi-moksh-ya-se
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 4 Verse 32
Context
Krishna summarises the many sacrifices (4.24–4.31).
Meaning
All these sacrifices are spread out in the “mouth of Brahman,” meaning they are taught in the Veda or offered to the Absolute. Yet they all arise from karma, from activity of body, mind and speech. The Self itself does not act. Knowing that sacrifices belong to the realm of action while the Self remains free brings liberation.
This verse prepares the transition from practice to knowledge. Practices are valuable, but they are means. Liberation comes from understanding that the Self is beyond all action, even sacred action. The next verse makes this explicit.
In Practice
Reflect: your practices are activities of body and mind, but you are the awareness behind them. Rest in that awareness for a moment after your practice.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.