Chapter 13, Verse 26 (Bhagavad Gita 13.26)
Sanskrit Shloka
अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वाऽन्येभ्य उपासते।तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः
Transliteration
anye tv evam ajānantaḥ śhrutvānyebhya upāsate te ’pi chātitaranty eva mṛityuṁ śhruti-parāyaṇāḥ
Word Meanings
anye—others; tu—still; evam—thus; ajānantaḥ—those who are unaware (of spiritual paths); śhrutvā—by hearing; anyebhyaḥ—from others; upāsate—begin to worship; te—they; api—also; cha—and; atitaranti—cross over; eva—even; mṛityum—death; śhruti-parāyaṇāḥ—devotion to hearing (from saints)
Translation
Others, who do not possess this direct knowledge, worship by hearing from others; having taken refuge in what they have heard, they too transcend the cycle of death.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the boundless mercy of the path of hearing (Shravana-bhakti). Even if a seeker lacks deep meditative realization, simple faith in the teachings of the Guru or the scriptures leads to liberation. By accepting the words of the enlightened as their supreme refuge, the devotee aligns their consciousness with the Divine. Shri Krishna assures us that this sincere reliance on divine wisdom acts as a bridge over the ocean of samsara. Through this, the soul is liberated from the fear of death and attains the eternal abode of the Lord.