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Bhagavad Gita 13.18

Chapter 13, Verse 18

Part of 13: Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yogक्षेत्र-क्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते।ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्॥

Transliteration

jyotiṣhām api taj jyotis tamasaḥ param uchyate jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ jñāna-gamyaṁ hṛidi sarvasya viṣhṭhitam

Meaning

That Light of all lights is said to be beyond darkness: knowledge, the knowable, and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.

Word-by-word meaning
jyotiṣhāmin all luminarieapiandtatthatjyotiḥthe source of lighttamasaḥthe darknessparambeyonduchyateis said (to be)jñānamknowledgejñeyamthe object of knowledgejñāna-gamyamthe goal of knowledgehṛidiwithin the heartsarvasyaof all living beingsviṣhṭhitamdwells
Commentary

The Supreme Self illumines the intellect, the mind, the sun, moon, stars, fire and lightning. It is selfluminous? The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do these lightnings shine and much less this fire. When It shines, everything shines after It all these shine by Its Light. (Kathopanishad 5.15 also Svetasvataropanishad 6.14)Knowledge Such as humility. (Cf. XIII.7to11)The knowable As described in verses 12 to 7. The goal of knowledge, i.e., capable of being understood by wisdom. These three are installed in the heart (Buddhi) of every living being. Though the light of the sun shines in all objects, yet the suns light shines more brilliantly in all bright and clean objects such as a mirror. Even so, though Brahman is present in all objects, the intellect shines with special effulgence received from Brahman. (Cf. X.20XIII.3XVIII.61)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 18?
That Light of all lights is said to be beyond darkness: knowledge, the knowable, and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 18 of Chapter 13 (Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.