In Bhagavad Gita 15.15, Krishna says he is seated in the hearts of all; from him come memory, knowledge and their loss; he is to be known through all the Vedas, the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो
मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनञ्च
वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो
वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम् ॥ १५-१५ ॥
sarvasya cāhaṃ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtirjñānamapohanañca
vedaiśca sarvairahameva vedyo
vedāntakṛdvedavideva cāham
English transliteration sarvasya chaaham hridi sannivishto
mattah smritirjnaanamapohanancha
vedaishcha sarvairahameva vedyo
vedaantakridvedavideva chaaham ॥ 15.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am seated in the hearts of all. From Me come memory, knowledge and their loss. I alone am to be known through all the Vedas. I am the author of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of all |
| च ca | and |
| अहम् aham | I |
| हृदि hṛdi | in the hearts |
| सन्निविष्टः sanniviṣṭaḥ | seated |
| मत्तः mattaḥ | from Me |
| स्मृतिः smṛtiḥ | memory |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| अपोहनम् apohanam | their loss |
| च ca | and |
| वेदैः vedaiḥ | through the Vedas |
| च ca | and |
| सर्वैः sarvaiḥ | all |
| अहम् aham | I |
| एव eva | alone |
| वेद्यः vedyaḥ | to be known |
| वेदान्तकृत् vedāntakṛt | author of Vedānta veda (Vedas) + anta (end) + kṛt (author) |
| वेदवित् vedavit | knower of the Vedas veda (Vedas) + vit (knower) |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–vas–ya cā–haṃ hṛ–di san–ni–viṣ–ṭo 11 syllables sar-vas-ya chaa-ham hri-di san-ni-vish-to
- mat–taḥ smṛ–tir–jñā–na–ma–po–ha–nañ–ca | 11 syllables mat-tah smri-tir-jnaa-na-ma-po-ha-nan-cha
- ve–daiś–ca sar–vai–ra–ha–me–va ved–yo 11 syllables ve-daish-cha sar-vai-ra-ha-me-va ved-yo
- ve–dān–ta–kṛd–ve–da–vi–de–va cā–ham || 15-15 11 syllables ve-daan-ta-krid-ve-da-vi-de-va chaa-ham
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 15
Context
Krishna completes the description of his presence in the world (15.12–15.15).
Meaning
The Divine dwells in every heart. From it come smṛti, memory, jñāna, understanding, and also apohana, forgetting and the removal of doubt. It is the true subject of all the Vedas, the source of Vedānta, and the one who truly knows the Vedas.
The Divine is closest to us in the heart. Our capacity to remember, understand and even forget is guided by it.
In Practice
When you remember or understand something today, recognise the Divine in the heart as its source.
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.