So now Krishan will conclude this contrast between Karma Kanda and Karma Yoga with the verse from an example drawn from the Vedic cultural situation of wells and rivers

BG 2.46

yavan artha udapane

sarvatah samplutodake

tavan sarveshu vedeshu

brahmanasya vijanatah

SYNONYMS

yavan — all that; arthah — is meant; uda–pane — in a well of water; sarvatah — in all respects; sampluta–udake — in a great reservoir of water; tavan — similarly; sarveshu — in all; vedeshu — Vedic literatures; brahmanasya — of the man who knows the Supreme Brahman; vijanatah — who is in complete knowledge.

TRANSLATION

All purposes served by a small well can at once be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.

So udapane refers to small bodies of water such as a well, samplutodake refers to water flowing everywhere, like a river. Krishna is saying that whatever purpose is served by wells is also served by a flowing river.

Tavan sarveshu vedeshu, similarly, the purpose of all the Vedas is served by a Brahmana who knows the purpose of the Vedas, a transcendentalist. That purpose is completely served by such a Brahmana.

So, what is the point of this verse? The point is that if Krishna told Arjuna that the Vedas talk about the three modes, and one has to go beyond the three modes, then how can one give up following the Vedic literature? It is not about giving up; it is about going beyond. How does one go beyond? In Vedic traditional culture, there were different wells that served different purposes. For example, there was a well for washing clothes, a well for drinking water, a well for other bodily ablution purposes, and so on. Similarly, when there is a flowing river, the water keeps flowing and takes care of those things. Likewise, in the Vedic literature, there are different injunctions for fulfilling various desires. While these things are definitely discussed in the Vedas, all the Vedas have an ultimate purpose, which is to take everyone towards Krishna. If one understands that ultimate purpose, then they can understand that all these different Vedic rituals are there, and they don’t give them up, but they go beyond. The wells are for the sake of water, and in the river, there is an abundance of water that can serve any purpose. Similarly, the Vedas give different injunctions for different purposes, but the ultimate purpose, as Krishna will explain in 15.15- vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo- the purpose of Vedas is to know Him, to love Him, and to return back to Him. Krishna has not introduced Himself until now, but He is pointing out that the real purpose of the Vedas is not the three modes; it is beyond the three modes, which is what one has to seek. And if one seeks that, then they become brahmanasya vijanatah, a Brahmana who knows everything.