Quiz · 4.34–4.42
Knowledge burns what was done
Cover the answer. Read the Devanagari of the verse before you open it.
1
In 4.34, what case are praṇipātena (प्रणिपातेन), paripraśnena (परिप्रश्नेन), and sevayā (सेवया), and what do they tell him to do?
Answer
Instrumental singular. They answer "by what means." Know that knowledge by prostration, by question, and by service. sevayā (सेवया) is the instrumental of sevā (सेवा), so the ending is --yā (या), not --ena (एन). Same case.
2
4.42 recites ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha (आतिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ). What two words are joined, and what sandhi makes the o (ओ)?
Answer
आतिष्ठ + उत्तिष्ठ ātiṣṭha + uttiṣṭha. अ + उ a + u becomes o (ओ). Both are imperatives. Resort to yoga. Stand up. If you hear one verb, you lose the standing up.
3
Say 4.37 in one sentence.
Answer
As a kindled fire makes wood into ash, so the fire of knowledge makes all actions into ash.
4
What is 4.34–4.42 doing in the talk between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण)?
Answer
Arjuna is told how to get the knowledge of 4.33: prostration, question, and service, from people who see the truth. Once known, he does not go back into that confusion, and he sees beings in the self and in Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण). Even the worst doer crosses by the boat of knowledge. Knowledge burns action as fire burns wood. Doubt is what destroys a man. The last order is to cut that doubt with the sword of knowledge and stand up.
5
Cover the English of 4.42. Which words show you have the section?
Answer
jñānāsinā (ज्ञानासिना) and uttiṣṭha (उत्तिष्ठ). The sword cuts the doubt. The last command is stand up. If uttiṣṭha (उत्तिष्ठ) is swallowed inside ātiṣṭha (आतिष्ठ), stay there.