नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः। अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः।।5.15।।
na daddate kasyacit papam na caiva sukritam vibhuḥ. ajnanena avratam jnanam tena muhyanti jantavah.
Translation
The Supreme Lord does not bestow sin on anyone, nor does He partake in any virtuous deed. Ignorance covers true knowledge, and because of this the living entities become deluded.
Word Meanings
nā — never; daddate — gives; kasyacit — anyone’s; pāpam — sin; na — nor; caiva — also certainly; sukṛtam — pious activities; vibhuḥ — the Supreme Lord; ajñānēna — by ignorance; avṛtaṁ — covered; jñānaṁ — knowledge; tena — by that; muhyanti — are bewildered; jantavaḥ — the living entities.
Understanding the Verse
Verse 5.15 of the Bhagavad Gita highlights a central principle of the Lord’s transcendence over the dualities of karma. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, referred to as *vibhuḥ* (the all‑pervasive), remains completely untouched by human actions, whether sinful (pāpa) or virtuous (sukṛta). This statement dismantles the common misconception that divine favor is a reward for good deeds or that punishment is a direct result of misdeeds. Instead, the Lord’s nature is beyond the scope of merit and demerit; He is the immutable witness, the ultimate reality that does not change in response to the mutable actions of beings. By asserting "nā daddate kasyacit pāpam," the verse declares that no one receives sin from the Lord, reinforcing the idea that sin is a self‑generated condition arising from ignorance and not a divine imposition.
The second part of the verse, "ajñānēna avṛtaṁ jñānaṁ," explains why living entities remain in a state of delusion. Knowledge (jñāna) is the innate, subtle awareness that reveals the true nature of the self as part of the Supreme. However, this knowledge is veiled by ignorance (ajñāna), a mental darkness that obscures the Reality. Ignorance is not merely lack of information; it is a deep spiritual blindness that causes individuals to identify with the body, mind, and ego, mistaking these transient aspects for the eternal self. When this veil persists, the soul cannot recognize its divine origin, leading to the repeated cycle of birth, death, and karmic entanglement.
Finally, "tena muhyanti jantavaḥ" underscores the practical consequence of this obscuration. Because knowledge is covered, living beings (jantu) become bewildered (muhyanti) and act under false assumptions, perpetuating suffering and confusion. The verse therefore calls seekers to remove the veil of ignorance through disciplined practice—such as devotion (bhakti), self‑inquiry, and righteous living—so that the innate knowledge may shine forth. When the light of jñāna dispels ajñāna, the soul attains clarity, freedom from delusion, and ultimately, communion with the Supreme Who remains ever‑detached from the play of karma.
