1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min
Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.16
ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मन: ।
तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम् ॥ १६ ॥
jñānena tu tad ajñānaṁ
yeṣāṁ nāśitam ātmanaḥ
teṣām āditya-vaj jñānaṁ
prakāśayati tat param
When, however, one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up everything in the daytime.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Knowledge destroys ignorance and reveals everything, just as the sun lights up the day.
Prabhupāda explains that perfect knowledge comes through surrender to Kṛṣṇa. God and each living being always remain individuals.
Seek a genuine spiritual master who is fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, and learn about God and your relationship with Him.
Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits
“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything
Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment
Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
To know oneself different from the body
To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)
Two categories of bewilderment
To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God
How to get real knowledge — Seek out a bona-fide spiritual master and learn Krishna consciousness under Him
Who is a perfect representative of God — One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God
The living being (Doer No. 1) who knows that all bodily activities are automatically carried out by the modes of material nature (Doer No. 2), after those activities are sanctioned by the Supersoul (Doer No. 3), attains enlightenment thorough that knowledge
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 5.16 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?
Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.