In Bhagavad Gita 7.25, Krishna says he is not revealed to all, being veiled by his yoga maya; the deluded world does not know him as unborn and imperishable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य
योगमायासमावृतः
मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति
लोको मामजमव्ययम् ॥ ७-२५ ॥
nāhaṃ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
yogamāyāsamāvṛtaḥ
mūḍho’yaṃ nābhijānāti
loko māmajamavyayam
English transliteration naaham prakaashah sarvasya
yogamaayaasamaavritah
moodho’yam naabhijaanaati
loko maamajamavyayam ॥ 7.25 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am not revealed to all, being veiled by My yoga-māyā. This deluded world does not know Me, the unborn and imperishable.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| अहम् aham | I |
| प्रकाशः prakāśaḥ | revealed |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | to all |
| योगमायासमावृतः yogamāyāsamāvṛtaḥ | veiled by yoga-māyā yoga (divine power) + māyā (illusion) + samāvṛtaḥ (veiled) |
| मूढः mūḍhaḥ | deluded |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| न na | not |
| अभिजानाति abhijānāti | knows |
| लोकः lokaḥ | world |
| माम् mām | Me |
| अजम् ajam | unborn |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- nā–haṃ pra–kā–śaḥ sar–vas–ya 8 syllables naa-ham pra-kaa-shah sar-vas-ya
- yo–ga–mā–yā–sa–mā–vṛ–taḥ | 8 syllables yo-ga-maa-yaa-sa-maa-vri-tah
- mū–ḍho–‘yaṃ nā–bhi–jā–nā–ti 8 syllables moo-dho-‘yam naa-bhi-jaa-naa-ti
- lo–ko mā–ma–ja–mav–ya–yam || 7-25 8 syllables lo-ko maa-ma-ja-mav-ya-yam
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 7 Verse 25
Context
Krishna continues explaining why he is not recognised (7.24–7.25).
Meaning
The Divine is hidden by yoga-māyā, its own creative power that both manifests the world and veils the Divine within it. To the mūḍha, deluded, world, the Divine remains unknown as aja, unborn, and avyaya, imperishable. Only purified vision pierces this veil.
The Divine is not hiding to deceive us; the veil is the condition of a world in which we grow through seeking. As the heart becomes pure, the veil becomes thinner, and the Divine shines through ordinary life.
In Practice
Pray today for purer vision: “Remove the veil, so that I may see You in all things.”
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). 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.