अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अगर तू सब पापियोंसे भी अधिक पापी है, तो भी तू ज्ञानरूपी नौकाके द्वारा निःसन्देह सम्पूर्ण पापसमुद्रसे अच्छी तरह तर जायगा ॥
English
Even if you are the worst of wrongdoers, you will cross all wrongdoing by the raft of knowledge alone.
What this verse means
Even if someone has done terrible things, clear understanding can still carry them beyond the whole burden of wrongdoing.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen by guilt and confusion. Krishna keeps teaching him that knowledge changes everything: even someone burdened by the worst wrongdoing can cross over it. The next verse shows that this knowledge burns action itself.
Why this verse still matters
You replay the mistake in your head after the argument, the lie, the betrayal. Krishna says the mind can stop circling the wound: clear understanding can still carry you through.
The takeaway
There is relief in knowing your worst history does not have the final word.
Word-by-word translation
अपि (even) / चेदसि (even if you are) / पापेभ्यः (than wrongdoers) / सर्वेभ्यः (all) / पापकृत्तमः (most sinful) / सर्वम् (all) / ज्ञानप्लवेन (by the raft of knowledge) / एव (alone) / वृजिनम् (wrongdoing / trouble) / सन्तरिष्यसि (you will cross over)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: jnana (24 verses)