In Bhagavad Gita 13.18, Krishna says Brahman is the light of all lights, beyond darkness; it is knowledge, the object of knowledge and the goal of knowledge, seated in every heart.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्
तमसः परमुच्यते
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं
हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम् ॥ १३-१८ ॥
jyotiṣāmapi tajjyotis
tamasaḥ paramucyate
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ jñānagamyaṃ
hṛdi sarvasya viṣṭhitam
English transliteration jyotishaamapi tajjyotis
tamasah paramuchyate
jnaanam jneyam jnaanagamyam
hridi sarvasya vishthitam ॥ 13.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It is the light even of lights, said to be beyond darkness. It is knowledge, the object of knowledge and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ज्योतिषाम् jyotiṣām | of lights |
| अपि api | even |
| तत् tat | that |
| ज्योतिः jyotiḥ | light |
| तमसः tamasaḥ | darkness |
| परम् param | beyond |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| ज्ञेयम् jñeyam | object of knowledge |
| ज्ञानगम्यम् jñānagamyam | the goal of knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + gamyam (goal) |
| हृदि hṛdi | in the heart |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of all |
| विष्ठितम् viṣṭhitam | seated |
Word-wise Chanting
- jyo–ti–ṣā–ma–pi taj–jyo–tis– 8 syllables jyo-ti-shaa-ma-pi taj-jyo-tis-
- ta–ma–saḥ pa–ra–muc–ya–te | 8 syllables ta-ma-sah pa-ra-much-ya-te
- jñā–naṃ jñe–yaṃ jñā–na–gam–yaṃ 8 syllables jnaa-nam jne-yam jnaa-na-gam-yam
- hṛ–di sar–vas–ya viṣ–ṭhi–tam || 13-18 8 syllables hri-di sar-vas-ya vish-thi-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 13 Verse 18
Context
Krishna concludes the description of Brahman (13.13–13.18).
Meaning
Brahman is jyotiṣām jyotiḥ, the light that makes even the sun and stars shine, beyond all darkness. It is jñāna, knowing itself; jñeya, what is known; and jñāna-gamya, what knowledge leads to. And it is seated in every heart.
The light we seek is the light by which we seek. It is not far away but dwells in our own heart.
In Practice
Close your eyes and sense the inner light of awareness that knows everything you experience. Rest in it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.