Verse 5.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः। तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम्।।
Transliteration (IAST)
jñānena tu tad ajñānaṁ yeṣāṁ nāśitam ātmanaḥ। teṣām āditya-vaj jñānaṁ prakāśayati tat param।।
Word-by-Word Meanings
ज्ञानेन-by knowledge
अज्ञानम्-ignorance
नाशितम्-destroyed
आत्मनः-of the Self
आदित्यवत्-like the sun
परम्-the Supreme
Translation
But for those whose ignorance of the Self is destroyed by knowledge, that knowledge, like the sun, illuminates the Supreme.
Commentary
When the veil of ignorance is removed by Self-knowledge, the truth shines forth naturally, just as the sun illuminates everything when clouds disperse. Knowledge does not create something new - it reveals what was always present. The Supreme Reality is self-luminous.
Themes
jnanaatmanmoksha