In Bhagavad Gita 15.12, Krishna says the light in the sun that illuminates the world, and the light in the moon and in fire, is his light.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदादित्यगतं तेजो
जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम्
यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्नौ
तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम् ॥ १५-१२ ॥
yadādityagataṃ tejo
jagadbhāsayate’khilam
yaccandramasi yaccāgnau
tattejo viddhi māmakam
English transliteration yadaadityagatam tejo
jagadbhaasayate’khilam
yachchandramasi yachchaagnau
tattejo viddhi maamakam ॥ 15.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The splendour in the sun that illuminates the whole world, and that which is in the moon and in fire: know that splendour to be Mine.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् yat | which |
| आदित्यगतम् ādityagatam | in the sun āditya (sun) + gatam (present) |
| तेजः tejaḥ | splendour |
| जगत् jagat | world |
| भासयते bhāsayate | illuminates |
| अखिलम् akhilam | whole |
| यत् yat | which |
| चन्द्रमसि candramasi | in the moon |
| यत् yat | which |
| च ca | and |
| अग्नौ agnau | in fire |
| तत् tat | that |
| तेजः tejaḥ | splendour |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| मामकम् māmakam | Mine |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā–dit–ya–ga–taṃ te–jo 8 syllables ya-daa-dit-ya-ga-tam te-jo
- ja–gad–bhā–sa–ya–te–‘khi–lam | 8 syllables ja-gad-bhaa-sa-ya-te-‘khi-lam
- yac–can–dra–ma–si yac–cāg–nau 8 syllables yach-chan-dra-ma-si yach-chaag-nau
- tat–te–jo vid–dhi mā–ma–kam || 15-12 8 syllables tat-te-jo vid-dhi maa-ma-kam
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 12
Context
Krishna describes his presence in the world (15.12–15.15).
Meaning
The light of the sun that brightens the world, the soft light of the moon and the light of fire are all the Divine’s tejas, radiance. Every source of light in the world shines with borrowed light from the Divine.
Every time we see light, we can remember the Divine. Light becomes a constant reminder of the sacred.
In Practice
When you see sunlight, moonlight or a flame today, silently say, “This light is the Divine.”
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.