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Chapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person · 20 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Krishna’s natureChapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person
15.1115.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 15.12

Krishna sustains, illuminates and gives remembrance

Īśvara · God

यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भ‍ासयतेऽखिलम् ।

यच्च‍न्द्रमसि यच्च‍ाग्न‍ौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम् ॥ १२ ॥

yad āditya-gataṁ tejo

jagad bhāsayate ’khilam

yac candramasi yac cāgnau

tat tejo viddhi māmakam

Translation

The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Light Comes from Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa says that the sun’s light, which removes the world’s darkness, and the light of the moon and fire come from Him.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the source of this light is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    When you see sunlight, moonlight or fire, remember that we depend on Kṛṣṇa’s mercy to live.

Key points from the purport

Splendor of the sun, moon, electricity and fire come from Supreme Personality of Godhead

a

Benefit of such a conception of life as given in this verse — This invokes Krishna consciousness in the conditioned soul

The unintelligent cannot see how things are taking place in the material world

In such a conception of life, the beginning of Krishna consciousness, lies a great deal of advancement for the conditional soul in this material world

Sun provides illumination - With rise of sun all activities begin

One sun illuminates the entire solar system

Each universe has only one sun

Moon as one of the stars (Ref Bg. 10.21) – Very pleasing to the people and nourishes the vegetables

Fire – Help in cooking and many factories

Without Lord’s mercy there cannot be sun, moon or fire – without which no-one can live

Further reading

Krishna’s Position As Our Maintainer

We should be attracted to Krishna by knowing His position as –

Our maintainer on both the cosmic and personal levels

Compiler of Vedanta and knower of the Vedas

Chapter 15, section III: Krishna’s Position As Our Maintainer
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatthat which
  2. āditya-gatamin the sunshine
  3. tejaḥsplendor
  4. jagatthe whole world
  5. bhāsayateilluminates
  6. akhilamentirely
  7. yatthat which
  8. candramasiin the moon
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 15.12 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 15 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 15.13Krishna sustains, illuminates and gives remembranceBG 15.14Krishna sustains, illuminates and gives remembranceBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todayDetachment Through Surrender to KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 15.3-4, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
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  3. Lead
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