यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन ।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे अर्जुन जैसे प्रज्वलित अग्नि ईंधनोंको सर्वथा भस्म कर देती है, ऐसे ही ज्ञानरूपी अग्नि सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंको सर्वथा भस्म कर देती है ॥
English
As a blazing fire reduces fuel to ashes, so the fire of knowledge reduces all actions to ashes, Arjuna.
What this verse means
Clear understanding destroys the binding force of past actions, just as fire destroys fuel.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna still stands frozen while Krishna keeps teaching him how action can be transcended. After saying knowledge carries a person across all wrongdoing, Krishna now gives the image: true understanding burns the force of karma completely.
Why this verse still matters
You replay a mistake at 2 a.m., convinced it has branded you forever. Then one honest insight breaks the spell and the story stops running you.
The takeaway
There is relief in seeing that insight can end what effort alone cannot.
Word-by-word translation
यथा (just as) / एधांसि (fuel) / समिद्धः (blazing) / अग्निः (fire) / भस्मसात् (to ashes) / कुरुते (makes) / अर्जुन (Arjuna) / ज्ञान-अग्निः (fire of knowledge) / सर्व-कर्माणि (all actions) / भस्मसात् (to ashes) / कुरुते (makes) / तथा (so)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.