In Bhagavad Gita 4.5, Krishna explains that both he and Arjuna have passed through many births; he remembers them all, but Arjuna does not.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि
जन्मानि तव चार्जुन
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि
न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥ ४-५ ॥
bahūni me vyatītāni
janmāni tava cārjuna
tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi
na tvaṃ vettha parantapa
English transliteration bahooni me vyateetaani
janmaani tava chaarjuna
taanyaham veda sarvaani
na tvam vettha parantapa ॥ 4.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed, and of yours too, O Arjuna. I know them all, but you do not know them, O scorcher of foes.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| बहूनि bahūni | many |
| मे me | My |
| व्यतीतानि vyatītāni | have passed |
| जन्मानि janmāni | births |
| तव tava | your |
| च ca | and |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| तानि tāni | them |
| अहम् aham | I |
| वेद veda | know |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| न na | not |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| वेत्थ vettha | know |
| परन्तप parantapa | O scorcher of foes |
Word-wise Chanting
- ba–hū–ni me vya–tī–tā–ni 8 syllables ba-hoo-ni me vya-tee-taa-ni
- jan–mā–ni ta–va cār–ju–na | 8 syllables jan-maa-ni ta-va chaar-ju-na
- tān–ya–haṃ ve–da sar–vā–ṇi 8 syllables taan-ya-ham ve-da sar-vaa-ni
- na tvaṃ vet–tha pa–ran–ta–pa || 4-5 8 syllables na tvam vet-tha pa-ran-ta-pa
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 4 Verse 5
Context
Krishna answers Arjuna’s question (4.4) by revealing the difference between divine and human birth.
Meaning
Both Krishna and Arjuna have lived many lives. The difference is awareness: Krishna remembers them all, while Arjuna has forgotten. The ordinary soul is born under the veil of forgetfulness; the Divine takes birth with full knowledge, unbound by the past.
The verse affirms continuity of existence across lives, a theme already introduced in Chapter 2. It also points to a spiritual aim: to awaken from forgetfulness into awareness. As consciousness grows, we see our life within a much larger story.
In Practice
Reflect on how much of your past is forgotten, even in this life. Rest for a moment in the awareness that has been present through all of it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). 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.