Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च ।
सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत् ॥१६॥
bahir antaś ca bhūtānām
acaraṁ caram eva ca
sūkṣmatvāt tad avijñeyaṁ
dūra-sthaṁ cāntike ca tat
Word for word (synonyms)
- bahiḥ
- outside
- antaḥ
- inside
- ca
- also
- bhūtānām
- of all living entities
- acaram
- not moving
- caram
- moving
- eva
- also
- ca
- and
- sūkṣmatvāt
- on account of being subtle
- tat
- that
- avijñeyam
- unknowable
- dūrasthaṁ
- far away
- ca antike
- near also
- ca
- and
- tat
- that
Translation
The Supreme Truth exists both internally and externally, in the moving and nonmoving. He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all.
Purport
In Vedic literature we understand that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Person, is residing both outside and inside of every living entity. He is present both in the spiritual and material world. Although He is far, far away, still He is near to us. These are the statements of Vedic literature. Āsīno dūraṁ vrajati śayāno yāti sarvataḥ. And, because He is always engaged in transcendental bliss, we cannot understand how He is enjoying His full opulence. We cannot see or understand with these material senses. Therefore in the Vedic language it is said that to understand Him our material mind and senses cannot act. But one who has purified his mind and senses by practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness in devotional service can see Him constantly. It is confirmed in Brahmā-saṁhitā that the devotee who has developed love for the Supreme God can see Him always, without cessation. And it is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā [[bg/11/54|(Bg. 11.54)]] that He can be seen and understood only by devotional service. Bhaktyā tvananyayā śakyaḥ.
What this verse teaches
The study note for this verse is in editorial review.
Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 1
- Bhagavad-gītā 13.16 1973-10-10
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.