In Bhagavad Gita 15.6, Krishna says neither sun, moon nor fire illuminates his supreme abode; having gone there, none return.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न तद्भासयते सूर्यो
न शशाङ्को न पावकः
यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते
तद्धाम परमं मम ॥ १५-६ ॥
na tadbhāsayate sūryo
na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yadgatvā na nivartante
taddhāma paramaṃ mama
English transliteration na tadbhaasayate sooryo
na shashaanko na paavakah
yadgatvaa na nivartante
taddhaama paramam mama ॥ 15.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Neither the sun, nor the moon, nor fire illuminates that place. Having gone there, they do not return. That is My supreme abode.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| तत् tat | that |
| भासयते bhāsayate | illuminates |
| सूर्यः sūryaḥ | the sun |
| न na | not |
| शशाङ्कः śaśāṅkaḥ | the moon |
| न na | not |
| पावकः pāvakaḥ | fire |
| यत् yat | which |
| गत्वा gatvā | having gone |
| न na | not |
| निवर्तन्ते nivartante | return |
| तत् tat | that |
| धाम dhāma | abode |
| परमम् paramam | supreme |
| मम mama | My |
Word-wise Chanting
- na tad–bhā–sa–ya–te sūr–yo 8 syllables na tad-bhaa-sa-ya-te soor-yo
- na śa–śāṅ–ko na pā–va–kaḥ | 8 syllables na sha-shaan-ko na paa-va-kah
- yad–gat–vā na ni–var–tan–te 8 syllables yad-gat-vaa na ni-var-tan-te
- tad–dhā–ma pa–ra–maṃ ma–ma || 15-6 8 syllables tad-dhaa-ma pa-ra-mam ma-ma
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 6
Context
Krishna describes his supreme abode.
Meaning
The supreme abode needs no sun, moon or fire to light it, because it is self-luminous; it is the light by which all other lights shine. Those who reach it do not return to the cycle. This echoes the Kaṭha and Muṇḍaka Upaniṣads.
Our own awareness is like this light. It needs nothing else to illuminate it; it illuminates everything else.
In Practice
Close your eyes and notice that awareness is still present without any outer light. Rest in it.
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.