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Bhagavad Gita 2.69

Chapter 2, Verse 69

Part of 2: Sānkhya Yogसांख्ययोग

या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी। यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः॥

Transliteration

yā niśhā sarva-bhūtānāṁ tasyāṁ jāgarti sanyamī yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśhā paśhyato muneḥ

Meaning

That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man is awake; when all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who sees.

Word-by-word meaning
whichniśhānightsarva-bhūtānāmof all living beingstasyāmin thatjāgartiis awakesanyamīself-controlledyasyāmin whichjāgratiare awakebhūtānicreaturesthatniśhānightpaśhyataḥseemuneḥsage
Commentary

That which is real for the wordlyminded people is illusion for the sage, and vice versa. The sage lives in the Self. This is day for him. He is unconscious of the wordly phenomena. They are night for him, as it were. The ordinary man is unconscious of his real nature. Life in the spirit is night for him. He is experiencing the objects of sensual enjoyment. This is day for him. The Self is a nonentity for him For a sage this world is a nonentity. The wordlyminded people are in utter darkness as they have no knowledge of the Self. What is darkness for them is all light for the sage. The Self? Atman or Brahman is night for the worldlyminded persons. But the sage is fully awake. He is directly cognising the supreme Reality, the Light of lights. He is full of illumination and AtmaJnana or knowledge of the Self.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 69?
That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man is awake; when all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who sees.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 69 of Chapter 2 (Sānkhya Yog — Transcendental Knowledge) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.