To the Brahmana who has known the Self, all the Vedas are of as much use as is a reservoir of water in a place where there is a flood.
In simple words
Krishna uses a vivid image: "Imagine a massive flood. When water is everywhere, what use is a small well? That's what scriptures are to someone who has found their true self — the truth is already everywhere."
Word-by-word meanings
यावान्as muchअर्थःuseउदपानेin a reservoirसर्वतःeverywhereसंप्लुतोदकेbeing floodedसर्वेषुin allवेदेषुin the Vedasब्राह्मणस्यof the Brahmanaविजानतःof the knowing
2.46 यावान् as much? अर्थः use? उदपाने in a reservoir? सर्वतः everywhere? संप्लुतोदके being flooded? तावान्,so much (use)? सर्वेषु in all? वेदेषु in the Vedas? ब्राह्मणस्य of the Brahmana? विजानतः of the knowing.Commentary Only for a sage who has realised the Self? the Vedas are of no use? because he is in possession of the infinite knowledge of the Self. This does not? however? mean that the Vedas are useless. They are useful for the neophytes or the aspirants who have just started on the spiritual path.All the transient pleasures derivable from the proper performance of all actions enjoined in the Vedas are comprehended in the infinite bliss of Selfknowledge.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
The beautiful illustration of water bodies given here is most apt when viewed in context. During the scorching summer months, when rivers dry up, people must draw water from nearby wells. Although water sources exist beneath the earth under their feet, they remain inaccessible for use. During the rainy season, when floods inundate all rivers, small reservoirs merge into them and cease to have separate existence or purpose. Similarly, as long as a human being does not recognize their own nature as bliss, they remain deluded and seek happiness in worldly objects. At that time, the Vedas—that is, the ritualistic portions—appear most useful, for they prescribe many means to attain heavenly pleasures and other rewards. However, when a sincere seeker directly realizes the blissful nature of the atman as expounded in the Upanishads, the ritualistic portions of the Vedas no longer serve any purpose. All the small pleasures born of enjoyment are absorbed within their blissful nature.
This does not mean that Vyasa condemns the ritualistic portions of the Vedas. Krishna is rebuking those who lack discrimination and mistake the means for the end, hoping to attain the infinite through transient actions. When actions are performed without attachment to results, the human personality develops, and such a person with a purified heart easily experiences the infinite, boundless atman. Thereafter, they feel no attraction to fleeting pleasures.
The Vedas reveal to us our own pure, conscious nature. As long as ignorance-bound ego exists, the study of the Vedas remains indispensable. When Self-knowledge dawns, the authority of the Vedas is itself established through that wise person. Just as one who has mastered advanced mathematics has no need to memorize multiplication tables, for such elementary knowledge is contained within their complete understanding. As far as your concern goes—