Bhagavad Gita · Vishvarupa Darshana YogaChapter 11, Shloka 53 (11.53)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया
शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा
॥ 11.53 ॥
nāhaṃ vedairna tapasā na dānena na cejyayā
śakya evaṃvidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavānasi māṃ yathā
Translation
"As you have seen me, I cannot be seen in this way through the Vedas, nor through austerity, nor through charity, nor through sacrifice."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. vedaiḥ ṛgyajuḥsāmātharvavedaiḥ caturbhir api; na tapasā ugreṇa cāndrāyaṇādinā; na dānena gobhūhiraṇyādinā; na ca ijyayā yajñena pūjayā vā.
Acharya Ramanuja (11.53–11.54 together): vedaiḥ adhyāpanapravacanādhyayanaśravaṇajapaviṣayaiḥ yāgadānahomatapobhiḥ ca madbhaktirahitaiḥ kevalaiḥ — teaching, expounding, studying, hearing, japa, sacrifice, charity, fire offerings, austerity — without devotion, on their own; with evidence from Katha 2.23: nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena; yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanūṃ svām.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.