In the world, no two different activities produce the same set of results. The twelve different Yajnas described so far, are all conspicuously different from one another, and so they must all be producing not an identical result but a series of different effects. In order to show that though the “paths” are different, all of them ultimately lead to the same goal, it is said here: “Various Yajnas lie open, leading to the gate of Brahman, the ETERNAL.” Just as ‘all roads lead to Rome,’ all the above-mentioned techniques of Yajna also ultimately lead to one and the same goal.

KNOW THEM ALL TO BE BORN OF ACTION — This timely reminder of the Lord has more than one direct suggestion: (a) these “paths” prescribed in the Vedas are all to be pursued through self-effort, and therefore, Arjuna is reminded of the inevitability of right action, if he wants to move ahead in his cultural self-development; and (b) it also suggests that all these “paths” are only the means and not the end. Action is born of “desires,” and, therefore, as long as there is action there is no redemption from “desires.” The “State-of-Desirelessness” is the “State-of-Perfection,” and therefore, in the context of our understanding, these pregnant words of the verse ring a note of warning that we should not misunderstand these Yajnas as the very goal of life.

UNDERSTANDING THUS, YOU SHALL BE FREE — Here the word “understanding” is not a mere intellectual apprehension but a complete spiritual comprehension, in a vivid subjective experience of Reality.

Right-Knowledge was represented as a “Knowledge-sacrifice” (IV-24). Then, several sacrifices have been mentioned. Knowledge is now being extolled, as compared with these latter kinds of sacrifices, which are all means of attaining the Purushartha — the inner integration.

Evam, thus; bahu-vidha yajnah, various kinds of sacrifices as described; vitatah, lie spread; mukhe, at the mouth, at the door; brahmanah, of the Vedas. Those which are known through the Vedas- as for instance, ‘We offer the vital force into speech’, etc.-are said to be vitatah, spread, elaborated; mukhe, at the mouth; brahmanah, of the Vedas. Viddhi, know; tan, them; sarvan, all; to be karmajan, born of action, accoplished through the activities of body, speech and mind, but not born of the Self. For the Self is actionless. Hence, jnatva, knowing; evam, thus; vimoksyase, you will become liberated from evil. By knowing thus- ‘These are not my actions; I am actionless and detached’-You will be freed from worldly bondage as a result of this full enlightenment. This is the purport. Through the verse beginning with, ‘The ladle is Brahman’ etc., complete Illumination has been represented as a sacrifice. And sacrifices of various kinds have been taught. With the help of [Some translate this as: As compared with…-Tr.] those (sacrifices) that are meant for accomplishing desireable human ends, Knowledge (considered as a sacrifice) is being extolled: How?