nāhaḿ vedair na tapasā
na dānena na cejyayā
śakya evaḿ-vidho draṣṭuḿ
dṛṣṭavān asi māḿ yathā
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.53
The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Krishna first appeared before His parents Devaki and Vasudeva in a four-handed form, and then He transformed Himself into the two-handed form. This mystery is very difficult to understand for those who are atheists or who are devoid of devotional service. For scholars who have simply studied Vedic literature by way of grammatical knowledge or mere academic qualifications, Krishna is not possible to understand. Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go to the temple to offer worship. They make their visit, but they cannot understand Krishna as He is. Krishna can be understood only through the path of devotional service, as explained by Krishna Himself in the next verse.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Moreover, please understand that others, who desire as the goal of their lives that svarupa which is not desired by you, cannot see that form or know that form even by such practices as study of the Vedas.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.53 – 11.54 Sri Krsna says — By Vedas, i.e., by mere study, teaching etc., of these sacred texts, it is not possible to know Me truly. It is also not possible through meditation, sacrifices, gifts and austerities, destitute of devotion towards Me. But by single-minded devotion i.e., by devotion characterised by extreme ardour and intensity, it is possible to know Me in reality through scriptures, to behold Me directly in reality, and enter into Me in reality. So describes a Sruti passage: ‘This Self cannot be obtained by instruction, nor by intellect nor by much hearing. Whomsoever He chooses, by him alone is He obtained. To such a one He reveals His own form’ (Ka. U., 2.2.23) and (Mun. U., 3.2.3).
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The same instructions that Lord Krishna declared in verse 48 about seeing His visvarupa or divine universal form apply also in being able to see His original two armed form which is pure spiritual sat-cid-ananda or eternal existence, unlimited cognizance and endless bliss.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
The same instructions that Lord Krishna declared in verse 48 about seeing His visvarupa or divine universal form apply also in being able to see His original two armed form which is pure spiritual sat-cid-ananda or eternal existence, unlimited cognizance and endless bliss.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.53 Na vedaih, not through the Vedas, not even through the four Vedas-Rk, Yajus, Sama and Atharvan; na tapasa, not by austerity, not by severe austerities like the Candrayana; not danena, by gifts, by gifts of cattle, land, gold, etc.; na ca, nor even; ijyaya, by sacrifices or worship; sakyah aham, can I; drastum, be seen evamvidhah, in this form, in the manner as was shown; yatha, as; drstavan asi, you have seen mam, Me. ‘How again, can You be seen? This is being answered:
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
11.53 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
naham vedair na tapasa
na danena na cejyaya
sakya evam-vidho drastum
drstavan asi mam yatha
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
na — never; aham — I; vedaiḥ — by study of the Vedas; na — never; tapasā — by serious penances; na — never; dānena — by charity; na — never; ca — also; ijyayā — by worship; śakyaḥ — it is possible; evam-vidhaḥ — like this; draṣṭum — to see; dṛṣṭavān — seeing; asi — you are; mām — Me; yathā — as.
