Chapter 5 · Karma Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Renunciation of ActionKrishna
Verse 16
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 5, श्लोक 16
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः।
तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम्॥
Transliteration
Jnanena Tu Tad-Ajnanam Yesham Nashitam-Atmanah.
Tesham-Aditya-Vaj-Jnanam Prakashayati Tat-Param.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
ज्ञानेनjnanenaby knowledge
तुtubut
तत्tatthat
अज्ञानम्ajnanamignorance
येषाम्yeshamof whom
नाशितम्nashitamdestroyed
आत्मनःatmanahof the self
तेषाम्teshamfor them
आदित्यवत्aditya-vatlike the sun
ज्ञानम्jnanamknowledge
प्रकाशयतिprakashayatiilluminates/reveals
तत्tatthat
परम्paramSupreme
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
परन्तु जिनका अज्ञान आत्मज्ञान द्वारा नष्ट हो गया है, उनका ज्ञान सूर्य के समान उस परम तत्त्व को प्रकाशित कर देता है।
English Translation
But for those whose ignorance is destroyed by self-knowledge, that knowledge illuminates the Supreme, like the sun.
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna uses the magnificent simile of the sun to describe the power of knowledge. Just as the sun reveals everything it shines upon, self-knowledge dispels the darkness of ignorance and reveals the Supreme Truth in all its glory. The sun does not create what it illuminates — it simply reveals what was always there. Similarly, knowledge does not create liberation; it reveals the ever-free nature of the Self.