Chapter 4 · Verse 5

Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action

श्री भगवानुवाच बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन। तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप
śhrī bhagavān uvācha bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava chārjuna tānyahaṁ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

Word Meanings

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Lord said; bahūni — many; me — of mine; vyatītāni — have passed; janmāni — births; tava — of yours; cha — and; arjuna — Arjun; tāni — them; aham — I; veda — know; sarvāṇi — all; na — not; tvam — you; vettha — know; parantapa — Arjun, the scorcher of foes

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed, and many of yours as well, O Arjuna. I remember them all, but you do not, O scorcher of foes.

Commentary

बहूनि may? मे My? व्यतीतानि have passed away? जन्मानि births? तव thy? च and? अर्जुन O Arjuna? तानि them? अहम् I? वेद know? सर्वाणि all? न not? त्वम् thou? वेत्थ knowest? परन्तप O Parantapa.Commentary You have no intuitional knowledge. The eye of wisdom has not been opened in you on account of your past actions. So your power of vision is limited and therefore you do not know your previous births. But I know them because I am omniscient.