29. Know Sacrifice And Be Purified (4.26-4.32)

In these verses, Kṛṣṇa talks about many forms of sacrifices—of material wealth, yoga, penance—a combination of material, physical, mental and spiritual sacrifices. 'Sacrifice', it is not just the act of giving, but the attitude of giving. The true meaning of sacrifice lies in the space from which it is done. When you offer something you cannot afford to give, it is a true enriching sacrifice. When one sacrifices whatever is dear or difficult to give away, he enters a completely different plane of sacrifice, of true non-attachment, leading to liberation.

Experience By Surrendering To A Master (4.33-4.36)

Sacrificing knowledge is far more difficult than sacrificing wealth. Kṛṣṇa advises the seeker to sacrifice one's knowledge and one's intellect at His feet, at the feet of the Master, to experience the ultimate Truth. Beautifully He says, 'tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā (4.34).' A Master is one who has experienced the Truth and who can simply transfer his experience of Truth to you. He communes with you. A teacher is one who imparts knowledge through communication.

Masters have no vested interest, no karma to exhaust. A Master does not differentiate between good and bad, merit or sin as the society does. Here, Kṛṣṇa says beautifully, 'Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners—sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-krt-tamaḥ, you will certainly cross the ocean of miseries with the boat of knowledge—sarvam jñāna-plavenaiva vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi (4.36).'