Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 11.54
Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 11.54 · 11 · Verse 54
Sanskrit Original
।।11.54।।वेदैः अध्यापनप्रवचनाध्ययनश्रवणजपविषयैः यागदानहोमतपोभिः च मद्भक्तिरहितैः केवलैः यथावद् अवस्थितः अहं द्रष्टुं न शक्यः। अनन्यया तु भक्त्या तत्त्वतः शास्त्रैः ज्ञातुं तत्त्वतः साक्षात्कर्तुं तत्त्वतः प्रवेष्टुं च शक्यः। तथा च श्रुतिःनायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन। यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यस्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम्। (कठ0 2।23) इति।
11.53 - 11.54 Sri Krsna says By Vedas, i.e., by mere study, teaching etc., of these sacred texts, it is not possible to know Me truly. It is also not possible through meditation, sacrifices, gifts and austerities, destitute of devotion towards Me. But by single-minded devotion i.e., by devotion characterised by extreme ardour and intensity, it is possible to know Me in reality through scriptures, to behold Me directly in reality, and enter into Me in reality. So describes a Sruti passage: 'This Self cannot be obtained by instruction, nor by intellect nor by much hearing. Whomsoever He chooses, by him alone is He obtained. To such a one He reveals His own form' (Ka. U., 2.2.23) and (Mun. U., 3.2.3).