Krishna reveals the lineage of the teaching — given to the sun-god, passed through kings, lost in time, and now renewed for Arjuna as friend and devotee (4.1–3). When Arjuna objects that Krishna was born long after those ancients, Krishna discloses his divine nature: both have had many births, but only Krishna remembers them (4.5) — and whenever righteousness declines, he manifests himself, age after age, to protect the good and re-establish dharma (4.7–8).
The rest of the chapter deepens the theory of action. The wise see inaction in action and action in inaction (4.18); one whose undertakings are free of desire has their karma burnt in the fire of knowledge (4.19). Krishna surveys the many forms of sacrifice — of possessions, of austerity, of breath, of study — and ranks the sacrifice of knowledge above them all (4.33). The way to that knowledge is concrete: approach the wise, ask sincere questions, serve them (4.34). Even the most sinful can cross over all evil by the boat of knowledge (4.36), for as blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, knowledge reduces all karma to ashes (4.37).
Key verses
Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, O Arjuna, at that time I manifest Myself.
Learn that knowledge by approaching the wise, by asking sincere questions, and by rendering service to them. The seers of truth, being established in knowledge, will impart it to you.
As a blazing fire reduces firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all karma to ashes.
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