Chapter 13, Verse 18 (Bhagavad Gita 13.18)
Sanskrit Shloka
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते।ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्
Transliteration
jyotiṣhām api taj jyotis tamasaḥ param uchyate jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ jñāna-gamyaṁ hṛidi sarvasya viṣhṭhitam
Word Meanings
jyotiṣhām—in all luminarie; api—and; tat—that; jyotiḥ—the source of light; tamasaḥ—the darkness; param—beyond; uchyate—is said (to be); jñānam—knowledge; jñeyam—the object of knowledge; jñāna-gamyam—the goal of knowledge; hṛidi—within the heart; sarvasya—of all living beings; viṣhṭhitam—dwells
Translation
He is the Light of all lights, said to be beyond the darkness of ignorance. He is the knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge, residing eternally within the hearts of all.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna reveals Himself as the ultimate source of all illumination, transcending the dualities of light and darkness. He explains that He is the very essence of wisdom, the subject who knows, and the ultimate objective of every spiritual quest. By declaring that He resides within the hearts of all living beings, Bhagwan Shri Krishna invites the seeker to turn their vision inward to find the Divine. This realization acts as the bridge to liberation, as the soul shifts from external pursuits to internal communion with the Supreme. Through this teaching, Yogeshwar Krishna assures Arjuna that He is the eternal refuge and the final destination of every awakened soul.