Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः। एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर।।11.48।।
na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānair na cha kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ evaṁ-rūpaḥ śhakya ahaṁ nṛi-loke draṣhṭuṁ tvad anyena kuru-pravīra
It is not possible for man on earth to see what thou hast seen, O thou foremost hero of the Kuru-clan, through study of the scriptures, sacrifice or gift, ritual or rigorous austerity!
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| na | not |
| veda-yajña | by performance of sacrifice |
| adhyayanaiḥ | by study of the Vedas |
| na | nor |
| dānaiḥ | by charity |
| na | nor |
| cha | and |
| kriyābhiḥ | by rituals |
| na | not |
| tapobhiḥ | by austerities |
| ugraiḥ | severe |
| evam-rūpaḥ | in this form |
| śhakyaḥ | possible |
| aham | I |
| nṛi-loke | in the world of the mortals |
| draṣhṭum | to be seen |
| tvat | than you |
| anyena | by another |
| kuru-pravīra | the best of the Kuru warriors |
Mere cramming of the texts of the Vedas without knowing the meaning will not do. A study of the sacrifices also is necessary.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Sequence request, granted sight, description, response, revelation, fear, apology and return to the familiar form.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaNot by the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, not by gifts, not even by rituals, nor by severe austerities, can I, in this form, be perceived in the human world by anyone other than you, O most valiant among the Kurus, who has not received My grace.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaNeither through the study of the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by recitations of the scriptures, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by strict austerities can I be realized in a form like this in the world of men by anyone else but you. O Arjuna!
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaMere cramming of the texts of the Vedas without knowing the meaning will not do. A study of the sacrifices also is necessary.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
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- 1
It is not possible for man on earth to see what thou hast seen, O thou foremost hero of the Kuru-clan, through study of the scriptures, sacrifice or gift, ritual or rigorous austerity!
- 2
na: not
- 3
tapobhiḥ: by austerities
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- 1
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- 2
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- 3
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