Verse 4.33

Verse 4.33: “To be preferred to a Sacrifice of material objects is the Sacrifice (consisting) in knowledge, O Tormentor of foes! All actions, becoming freed of its binding-power, O Son of Pritha, finds its culmination in knowledge. (157)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Oh Arjuna, all these ways of sacrifices need the use of gross and material stuff and action, that have their origin described in the Vedas, and have for their wonderful fruit, the emergence of a new power of commanding Heavenly enjoyments. These sacrifices of material objects are noble as sacrifices; yet, as compared with the sacrifices rooted in knowledge, they pale into insignificance as much as the brilliance of stars looks faint before that of the Sun. O Arjuna, that knowledge proves as a Divine collyrium to the spiritual eye of the inspired soul and the Yogins cannot bear to be without it any time; for, with that, they are able to find out the hidden treasure in the form of supreme bliss. That Bliss is the grand end of the cosmic action, the rich mine of emancipation that is knowledge which satisfies the spiritual hunger. By it, appetite becomes feeble, reason loses its power, the sense—centres forget their objects, the minds get their mind-notion snapped, the talk loses its power of talking, and the object of knowledge is traced—that knowledge, which rewards the agony of renunciation with a rich content, satisfies the eager craving of the higher intuitive mind, and brings about the union with the Spirit of the Supreme Self.