Bhagavad Gita BG 10.11
Chapter 10, Verse 11 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थं अहमज्ञानजं तमः । नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥
tesham evanukampArtham aham ajnana-jam tamah nashayamy atma-bhava-stho jnana-dipena bhasvata
Meaning
Out of compassion for them alone, I — dwelling in the very being of the self — destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of jnana.
Understanding
The most intimate verse of Chapter 10: tesham eva anukampa-artham (out of compassion for them ALONE — pure compassion, no other motive). Aham (I personally) — atma-bhava-stho (dwelling in the very being of the self — inside, immanent, intimate). Ajnana-jam tamah (the darkness born of ignorance — not external darkness but inner). Nashayami (I destroy). Jnana-dipena bhasvata (with the luminous/shining lamp of jnana). Krishna from within the devotee destroys the ignorance from within. The inner teacher — the Atman — destroys inner darkness with inner light.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अनुकम्पार्थम् | anukampartham | out of compassion, for the sake of compassion |
| अज्ञानजम् | ajnana-jam | born of ignorance, arising from ajnana |
| तमः | tamah | darkness (of ignorance) |
| आत्मभावस्थः | atma-bhava-sthah | dwelling in the very being of the self |
| ज्ञानदीपेन | jnana-dipena | with the lamp of jnana (knowledge) |
| तेषाम् | teṣām | for them |
| एव | eva | alone |
| अनुकम्पार्थम् | anukampārtham | out of compassion |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| अज्ञान-जम् | ajñāna-jam | born of ignorance |
| तमः | tamaḥ | darkness |
| नाशयामि | nāśayāmi | I destroy |
| आत्म-भाव-स्थः | ātma-bhāva-sthaḥ | dwelling within their hearts |
| ज्ञान-दीपेन | jñāna-dīpena | by the lamp of knowledge |
| भास्वता | bhāsvatā | shining, radiant |