न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः।यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम।।15.6।।
na tadbhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ; yat gatvā na nivartante taddhāma paramaṁ mama.
Translation
Neither the sun nor the moon nor fire can illuminate that supreme abode of Mine. Having gone there, one never returns to this material world again.
Word Meanings
na — not; tat — that; bhāsayate — illuminates; sūryaḥ — the sun; na — nor; śaśāṅkaḥ — the moon; na — nor; pāvakaḥ — fire; yat — where; gatvā — having gone; na — never; nivartante — they return; tat dhāma — that abode; paramam — supreme; mama — My.
Understanding the Verse
In this profound verse of the sixteenth chapter, Krishna reveals a metaphysical truth about the ultimate destination of the soul, which lies beyond the grasp of ordinary perception. The first part, "na tadbhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ," emphasizes that the most luminous sources known to humanity – the sun, the moon, and fire – cannot cast light upon the supreme abode. This statement underscores the transcendental nature of the realm that Krishna describes; it is not confined to the material plane where light, as we understand it, can penetrate. Light in the physical world is a manifestation of energy that interacts with matter, yet the supreme abode is an immutable, non‑dual reality that is beyond the dualities of light and darkness.
The phrase "yat gatvā na nivartante" conveys an irreversible journey. Once a soul attains this abode, it does not return to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsāra). This aligns with the broader theme of Chapter 15, which portrays the material world as a temporary tree of life, rooted in ignorance. The soul's ascent to the supreme abode represents the culmination of spiritual evolution – a state of perfect knowledge (jnana) and devotion (bhakti) that dissolves all karmic bonds.
Krishna's reference to "taddhāma paramaṁ mama" identifies the supreme abode as "my supreme sanctuary." In the Bhagavad‑Gītā, Krishna often equates the Supreme Personality of Godhead with the ultimate refuge for all beings. By calling this realm "my" abode, Krishna signifies that it is not an abstract concept but an intimate, personal reality inhabited by the Divine. This offers devotees a direct relational understanding: the highest goal is to unite with the personal God, not merely an impersonal absolute.
The verse also answers an implicit question raised earlier in the chapter: How can one achieve the fruit of eternal life? The answer lies in transcending reliance on external illuminations – symbols of worldly knowledge and power – and turning inward to the Divine light that resides within. Those who cultivate unwavering devotion, purify their hearts, and surrender to Krishna's guidance are able to cross the threshold where even the brightest celestial bodies cannot penetrate, because they have already merged with the source of that illumination.
Finally, this teaching serves as both a consolation and a challenge. It assures aspirants that liberation is possible and permanent, yet it warns that the path demands a decisive renunciation of material attachments. The soul must leave behind all that is bound by fire, sun, or moon – the visible, temporal world – and enter the timeless, unseen reality of the Divine. In doing so, one experiences the ultimate peace: an existence free from suffering, birth, and death, eternally residing in the supreme abode of Krishna.
