The soul, presiding over the senses—ear, eye, touch, taste, and smell—enjoys sense objects through the mind.
The soul, though distinct from the body, engages with the world through senses, continuously experiencing joy and sorrow. Krishna subtly points out that the senses are merely tools, and their control is crucial in breaking free from worldly attachments, setting up the need for higher spiritual vision.
The ignorant do not perceive the soul as it departs, stays, or enjoys; but the wise, endowed with the eye of knowledge, see it clearly.
Most people fail to recognize the journey of the soul—its arrival, its experiences, and its departure. Only those with wisdom, who have cultivated inner vision, can perceive this truth. Krishna highlights that ignorance blinds people to the reality of their own existence, keeping them bound to suffering.
The yogis, striving diligently, perceive the soul within. The ignorant, whose minds are unrefined, do not perceive it despite their efforts.
Yogis, through disciplined practice, develop the ability to perceive the presence of the soul, realizing its true nature. However, those who remain engrossed in material distractions, despite their efforts, fail to attain this realization. This verse contrasts the seekers of truth with those lost in worldly illusion.
The light that is in the sun, which illumines the whole world, the light in the moon and in the fire—know that it is from Me.
Krishna expands on his divine presence, stating that all sources of light—sun, moon, and fire—are but manifestations of his energy. This connects material perception with spiritual understanding, urging Arjuna to recognize the divine essence behind all things, rather than seeing them as independent entities.
Entering the earth, I sustain all beings with My energy. Becoming the moon, I nourish all plants with life-giving juice.
Extending his influence to nature, Krishna explains how he sustains all beings through the earth’s nourishment. He is not only the creator but the sustainer, providing life-giving energy. This verse reinforces that everything in the universe operates through his divine will and presence.
As the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living beings, I digest the four kinds of food by uniting with the vital air.
Krishna further deepens this connection by explaining that he is present in digestion itself. The act of nourishment is not independent of the divine but part of a greater cosmic order. This highlights that even the most fundamental processes of survival are connected to spiritual reality.
I dwell in the hearts of all beings, and from Me come memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness. I am the object of the Vedas and the knower of the Vedas.
As the indwelling presence in all beings, Krishna is the source of knowledge, memory, and forgetfulness. He also establishes himself as the ultimate goal of the Vedas, not just as an intellectual pursuit but as the very essence of wisdom that leads to liberation.