Shankaracharya's commentary, trans. Alladi Mahadeva Sastry (1897)
[1]Thus received in regular succession, the royal sages knew this. But through long lapse of time this Yoga has been lost here, O Parantapa.
BG 4.2
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः । स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥
evaṃ paramparā-prāptam imaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ | sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa ||
"Royal sages received this yoga through succession — but vast time destroyed it. That is why it must be re-taught."
All public-domain translations
5 translations · all pre-1928 or released to public domain · sources
Swami Swarupananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita (1909)
[4]This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Parantapa.
William Quan Judge, The Bhagavad Gita (1890)
[6]The Royal Sages knew this devotion as thus handed down by degrees; but, O Parantapa, this devotion has been lost in the world by long discontinuance.
Sir Edwin Arnold, The Song Celestial (1885)
[7]Thus handed down in line from king to king, The sages knew it; but with lapse of time That precious knowledge perished.
K.T. Telang, Sacred Books of the East Vol. 8 (1882)
[9]Thus handed down in regular succession, the royal sages knew this. But, O terror of foes, through the great lapse of time, this Yoga has been lost here.