In Bhagavad Gita 15.10, Krishna says the deluded do not see the soul leaving, staying or experiencing, joined with the gunas; those with the eye of knowledge see it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि
भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम्
विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति
पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥ १५-१० ॥
utkrāmantaṃ sthitaṃ vāpi
bhuñjānaṃ vā guṇānvitam
vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti
paśyanti jñānacakṣuṣaḥ
English transliteration utkraamantam sthitam vaapi
bhunjaanam vaa gunaanvitam
vimoodhaa naanupashyanti
pashyanti jnaanachakshushah ॥ 15.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whether it is departing, staying or experiencing, joined with the gunas, the deluded do not perceive it. Those who have the eye of knowledge see it.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उत्क्रामन्तम् utkrāmantam | departing |
| स्थितम् sthitam | staying |
| वा vā | or |
| अपि api | also |
| भुञ्जानम् bhuñjānam | experiencing |
| वा vā | or |
| गुणान्वितम् guṇānvitam | joined with the guṇas guṇa (guṇas) + anvitam (joined) |
| विमूढाः vimūḍhāḥ | the deluded |
| न na | not |
| अनुपश्यन्ति anupaśyanti | perceive |
| पश्यन्ति paśyanti | see |
| ज्ञानचक्षुषः jñānacakṣuṣaḥ | those with the eye of knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + cakṣuṣaḥ (eye) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ut–krā–man–taṃ sthi–taṃ vā–pi 8 syllables ut-kraa-man-tam sthi-tam vaa-pi
- bhuñ–jā–naṃ vā gu–ṇān–vi–tam | 8 syllables bhun-jaa-nam vaa gu-naan-vi-tam
- vi–mū–ḍhā nā–nu–paś–yan–ti 8 syllables vi-moo-dhaa naa-nu-pash-yan-ti
- paś–yan–ti jñā–na–ca–kṣu–ṣaḥ || 15-10 8 syllables pash-yan-ti jnaa-na-cha-kshu-shah
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 15 Verse 10
Context
Krishna continues explaining the soul (15.7–15.11).
Meaning
The soul is always present: when it leaves a body, while it lives in one, and as it experiences the world. Yet the vimūḍha, deluded, do not perceive it, seeing only the body. Those with jñāna-cakṣus, the eye of wisdom, see the soul at work.
We usually see only the outer person. With the eye of wisdom, we see the living soul within every being.
In Practice
Look at someone today and try to sense the soul within, not just the body and personality.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). 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.