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Lv 4

What is this Bhagavad Gita verse?

I saw this quoted from the Gita but can't find the verse. I've read the Gita twice and can't recall it, so I'm not sure it's actually in there. However, my copy may have just worded it differently.

"As a man can drink water from any side of a full tank, so the skilled theologian can wrest from any scripture that which will serve his purpose"

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  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The problem with translation is that it may produce quite different (but equally valid, and equally doubtful) renditions of one text.

    I tried searching the Web and found so many copies of this--most without any source notes--that I nearly gave up. I also tried paging through the Gita, which I have in a translation by Juan Mascaró, without seeing anything that matched it.

    But one of the online sources included a note attributing the quote to chapter 2, so I took another look there, and I think it is 2:46. Here is the Mascaró rendering:

    As is the use of a well of water where water everywhere overflows, such is the use of all the Vedas to the seer of the Supreme.

  • ssrvj
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    Translations "LIMIT" the Interpretation of a verse, to the extent of the limit of knowledge of the Translator regarding the purport/connotation of a "Word" in the Original Verse.An alternative is to select Better Translations if NOt the Best.

    2-46-=> "For a person who stands on the brink of a Humongous Sheet of water (like a huge lake) overflowing on all sides--what use would be there for him/her a small puddle of Water,nearby--likewise for an enlightened person (Brahma Gjnaani) what is the Use of VEDAM (the authoritative Hindu Text) ?

    Because he/she has already attained his/her "Goal"--what else he/she would attain by reading Religious Texts?

    "Yaavaanartha Udhpaane Sarvathaha Samluthothake "

    "Taavan Sarvashu Vedheshu Braahmansya Vijaanathaha" (Bhagavat Gita -2-46)

    a better English Translation is that of Swami Ghambhiraanandha ,11th President of Ramakrishna Order ,Kolkatta (India).--The book gives the English Translation of an Excellent Gloss by Acharya SANKARA with refernces from many other Related works (Prasthaana Trayi)--

    In India the cost of the book is only Rs 120/=(US $ 2/= TWO US Dollars) The same book in USA Indian dealers sell for US $ 30/= (THIRTY)

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