ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् | ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ||४-२४||
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havirbrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam . brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā ||4-24||
Chapter 4 · Verse 24
Jnana Yoga
ज्ञानयोग
In plain words
This is JnanaYajna or wisdomsacrifice wherein the idea of Brahman is substituted for the ideas of the instrument and other accessories of action the idea of action itself and of its results. By entertaining such an idea the whole action melts away as stated in the previous verse (No. 23).
Translation
4.24 Brahman is the instrument to offer with; Brahman is the oblation. By Brahman is the oblation offered into the fire of Brahman; Brahman alone is to be reached by him who meditates on Him in his works.
Meaning
This is JnanaYajna or wisdomsacrifice wherein the idea of Brahman is substituted for the ideas of the instrument and other accessories of action the idea of action itself and of its results. By entertaining such an idea the whole action melts away as stated in the previous verse (No.23). When one attains to the knowledge of the Self or Selfrealisation his whole life becomes a wisdomsacrifice in which the oblation the melted butter or the offering the performer of the sacrifice the action and the goal are all Brahman. He who meditates thus wholly upon Brahman shall verily attain to Brahman. The sage who has the knowledge of the Self knows that the oblation the fire the instrument by which the melted butter is poured into the fire and himself have no existence apart from that of Brahman. He who has realised through direct cognitio (Anubhava) that all is Brahman does no action even if he performs actions. (Cf. III.15)
Word by word
ब्रह्म Brahman अर्पणम् the oblation ब्रह्म Brahman हविः the clarified butter ब्रह्माग्नौ in the fire of Brahman ब्रह्मणा by Brahman हुतम् is offered ब्रह्म Brahman एव only तेन by him गन्तव्यम् shall be reached ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना by the man who is absorbed in action which is Brahman.