Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, verse 38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥
Say itna hi jñānena sadṛiśhaṁ pavitramiha vidyate
tatsvayaṁ yogasansiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati
Translation
Verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. He who is perfected in Yoga finds it within the Self in due time.
Swami Sivananda
Indeed, there is nothing purifying here comparable to Knowledge. One who has become perfected over time through yoga, realizes That in their own heart.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
For there is no purifier equal to knowledge; he who is perfected in Karma Yoga finds this knowledge of his own accord in himself in due time.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
In this world, there exists no purifier comparable to knowledge. One who becomes perfect in Yoga finds this, of their own accord, in their Self in due course.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
There is nothing in the world so purifying as wisdom; and he who is a perfect saint finds that at last within himself.
Shri Purohit Swami
इस मनुष्यलोकमें ज्ञानके समान पवित्र करनेवाला निःसन्देह दूसरा कोई साधन नहीं है। जिसका योग भली-भाँति सिद्ध हो गया है, वह (कर्मयोगी) उस तत्त्वज्ञानको अवश्य ही स्वयं अपने-आपमें पा लेता है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
इस लोक में ज्ञान के समान पवित्र करने वाला, निसंदेह, कुछ भी नहीं है। योग में संसिद्ध पुरुष स्वयं ही उसे (उचित) काल में आत्मा में प्राप्त करता है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.