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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Verse 16 (5.16)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Verse 16 (5.16)

ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः । तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम् | | ५-१६ | |

jñānena tu tadajñānaṁ yeṣhāṁ nāśhitamātmanaḥ teṣhāmādityavajjñānaṁ prakāśhayati tatparam

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • ज्ञएन (jnanena) — ज्ञान(but by knowledge)
  • तु (tu) — ज्ञान(but by knowledge)
  • तत् (tat) — वह(that ignorance is destroyed)
  • अज्ञनम् (ajnanam) — कर्म(that ignorance is destroyed)
  • yesam joined in yeṣhāṁ
  • नइत (nashitam) — नइत(that ignorance is destroyed)
  • आत्मनः (atmanah) — आत्मा(of the self)
Line 2:
  • तेषाम् (tesham) — उनके लिए(for those people)
  • अइय-व (aditya-vat) — ज्ञान(knowledge like the sun)
  • ज्ञानम् (jnanam) — ज्ञान(knowledge like the sun)
  • प्रकशयति (prakashayati) — इल्लुमिनतेस्(reveals the Supreme)
  • तत् (tat) — वह(reveals the Supreme)
  • परम् (param) — इसके बाद(reveals the Supreme)

English: Surely wisdom is like the sun, revealing the highest truth to those whose lack of understanding is dispelled by the wisdom of the self.

💡 Commentary Note

Just as the rising sun dispels the darkness of the night and reveals the world clearly, the dawn of self-knowledge (Gyan) destroys the darkness of ignorance. This wisdom reveals the supreme, unchanging reality of the Atman that was always present.

Learnings from Shloka 16:
  • Wisdom is Illuminating:: Self-knowledge works like sunlight, automatically dissolving doubts, confusion, and fear.
  • Seek Inner Awakening:: Focus on spiritual learning and self-reflection to let the light of your true Self shine through.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 5.16 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary