For one who understands, all the Vedas are as useful as a small puddle when a great reservoir of water is at hand.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.46
Hindi · हिन्दी
सब तरफसे परिपूर्ण महान् जलाशयके प्राप्त होनेपर छोटे गड्ढों में भरे जल में मनुष्यका जितना प्रयोजन रहता है अर्थात् कुछ भी प्रयोजन नहीं रहता, वेदों और शास्त्रोंको तत्त्वसे जाननेवाले ब्रह्मज्ञानीका सम्पूर्ण वेदोंमें उतना ही प्रयोजन रहता है अर्थात् कुछ भी प्रयोजन नहीं रहता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
यावान्as muchअर्थःuse, purposeउदपानेin a small water-sourceसर्वतःfrom all sidesसंप्लुतोदकेin a fully flooded reservoirतावान्that muchसर्वेषुin allवेदेषुin the Vedasब्राह्मणस्यfor the knower of Brahmanविजानतःfor one who truly knows
Read literallyas much · use, purpose · in a small water-source · from all sides · in a fully flooded reservoir · that much · in all · in the Vedas · for the knower of Brahman · for one who truly knows
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from collecting information to recognizing the decisive truth that makes excess instruction unnecessary.
A person who truly understands the supreme reality needs the Vedas no more than a person beside a full reservoir needs a tiny puddle.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is overwhelmed by duty, grief, and contradiction. Krishna answers by showing that real understanding is not scattered across many rules and rituals. For the one who truly knows, the whole point has been grasped.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You have read every article, saved every thread, and still feel unsure before making the hard call. At some point, more input stops helping; clear seeing does.
The takeaway
“There is relief in not needing endless guidance once the deeper truth is seen.”
A person who truly understands the supreme reality needs the Vedas no more than a person beside a full reservoir needs a tiny puddle.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.46?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.46?
Verse 46 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.46 matter today?
You have read every article, saved every thread, and still feel unsure before making the hard call. At some point, more input stops helping; clear seeing does.
It shifts the mind from collecting information to recognizing the decisive truth that makes excess instruction unnecessary.
What this verse means
A person who truly understands the supreme reality needs the Vedas no more than a person beside a full reservoir needs a tiny puddle.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is overwhelmed by duty, grief, and contradiction. Krishna answers by showing that real understanding is not scattered across many rules and rituals. For the one who truly knows, the whole point has been grasped.
Why this verse still matters
You have read every article, saved every thread, and still feel unsure before making the hard call. At some point, more input stops helping; clear seeing does.
“There is relief in not needing endless guidance once the deeper truth is seen.”