Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, Verse 16

Chapter 5 – Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः ।
तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम् ॥

Transliteration

jñānena tu tadajñānaṃ yeṣāṃ nāśitamātmanaḥ .
teṣāmādityavajjñānaṃ prakāśayati tatparam ॥

Meaning

But for those whose ignorance concerning the Self is destroyed by knowledge, that knowledge, like the sun, reveals the Supreme.

Word meanings

ज्ञानेन – by knowledge
तु – but
तत् – that
अज्ञानम् – ignorance
येषाम् – of whom
नाशितम् – is destroyed
आत्मनः – concerning the Self
तेषाम् – their
आदित्यवत् – like the sun
ज्ञानम् – knowledge
प्रकाशयति – reveals
तत्परम् – that Supreme Reality

Anvaya (word order)

तु येषाम् आत्मनः तत् अज्ञानं ज्ञानेन नाशितम्, तेषां तत् ज्ञानम् आदित्यवत् परं प्रकाशयति ।

Explanation

In the previous verse the problem was: knowledge is covered by ignorance. Here the solution is given: knowledge itself destroys ignorance. ‘Jnanena tu tad ajnanam yesham nashitam atmanah’ — for those whose ignorance about the Self has been destroyed by knowledge. To fight darkness one needs no stick but a lamp; the moment light comes, darkness goes by itself.

‘Adityavat’ — like the sun. When the sun rises it lights all things at once and no trace of darkness remains. Self-knowledge likewise illumines ‘tat param’ — that Supreme Reality. The simile of the sun is lovely since the sun needs no other lamp to be seen; knowledge is self-luminous.

According to Shankara, this Supreme Reality is Brahman, which appears in its natural form when ignorance goes. In Ramanuja's view this is that knowledge of the Self through which the seeker draws near to the Supreme Lord.

For the seeker who purifies the mind through action, devotion and discrimination, this knowledge is not the gain of something external but the uncovering of the light already within.

Context

Verse 5.15 said that knowledge is covered by ignorance. Verse 5.16 gives its destruction and the shining of knowledge. In 5.17 the steadfastness and destination of such a knower will be told.

Life lesson

Instead of fighting the darkness of the mind, light the lamp of knowledge. Regular study, good company and self-reflection increase the light of understanding, and confusion disappears of itself.

Key terms

Ajnana: ignorance of the Self's nature
Adityavat: like the sun
Tat-param: that Supreme Reality