In Bhagavad Gita 5.15, Krishna says the all-pervading Lord does not take on anyone’s sin or merit; knowledge is covered by ignorance, and that is why beings are deluded.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं
न चैव सुकृतं विभुः
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं
तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ ५-१५ ॥
nādatte kasyacitpāpaṃ
na caiva sukṛtaṃ vibhuḥ
ajñānenāvṛtaṃ jñānaṃ
tena muhyanti jantavaḥ
English transliteration naadatte kasyachitpaapam
na chaiva sukritam vibhuh
ajnaanenaavritam jnaanam
tena muhyanti jantavah ॥ 5.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The all-pervading Lord does not take on anyone’s sin or anyone’s merit. Knowledge is veiled by ignorance; that is why beings are deluded.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| आदत्ते ādatte | takes |
| कस्यचित् kasyacit | of anyone |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| सुकृतम् sukṛtam | merit |
| विभुः vibhuḥ | the all-pervading |
| अज्ञानेन ajñānena | by ignorance |
| आवृतम् āvṛtam | covered |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| तेन tena | by that |
| मुह्यन्ति muhyanti | are deluded |
| जन्तवः jantavaḥ | beings |
Word-wise Chanting
- nā–dat–te kas–ya–cit–pā–paṃ 8 syllables naa-dat-te kas-ya-chit-paa-pam
- na cai–va su–kṛ–taṃ vi–bhuḥ | 8 syllables na chai-va su-kri-tam vi-bhuh
- a–jñā–ne–nā–vṛ–taṃ jñā–naṃ 8 syllables a-jnaa-ne-naa-vri-tam jnaa-nam
- te–na muh–yan–ti jan–ta–vaḥ || 5-15 8 syllables te-na muh-yan-ti jan-ta-vah
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 5 Verse 15
Context
Krishna continues his explanation from 5.14.
Meaning
The all-pervading Self is like space: it contains everything but is stained by nothing. It does not absorb the sins or merits of beings. Why then are beings confused? Because jñāna, their true knowledge of the Self, is covered by ajñāna, ignorance. Delusion is not caused by the Self but by the veil over it.
The verse places the source of suffering in ignorance, not in divine punishment. This is liberating: ignorance can be removed. The rest of the chapter describes how knowledge dispels the darkness.
In Practice
Think of a recurring problem in your life. Ask what you might not be seeing clearly about it, and seek that understanding.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Renunciation). 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.