Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 11

English Translation

Out of compassion for them alone, I, residing in their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of Knowledge.

Detailed Commentary

**10.11 Explanation:** **'तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः'** – In the hearts of those devotees, there are no worldly desires, not even the desire for *moksha*. This means they seek neither worldly things nor spiritual objectives like *moksha* or *Tattva-bodha*. They simply perform My *bhajan* with pure love. Seeing their selfless devotion (*nishkama-bhava*) and loving *bhajan*, My heart melts. I wish to serve them, that they might take something from Me. But they take nothing from Me, so I dispel the darkness born of their ignorance. **'आत्मभावस्थः'** – Humans generally identify their 'being' with the body, for example, "I am a child," "I am young," etc. But in their true state of being, which is independent of *Prakriti*, the true Lord resides. This is the state of *Atma-bhava-stha*. **'भास्वता ज्ञानदीपेन नाशयामि'** – I destroy the darkness born of their ignorance with the effulgent lamp of knowledge (*Jnana-deepa*). The implication is that the ignorance by which they do not know who they are, that ignorance ceases, and they attain *Tattva-jnana* (knowledge of the Ultimate Reality). They attain this knowledge without any effort. **Special Point:** When devotees are absorbed in the Lord with exclusive devotion (*ananya-bhava*), the Lord bestows upon them *Samata* (equanimity) and *Tattva-bodha*. This bestowal by the Lord means that devotees do not have to strive for it; it happens spontaneously. Where there is *bhakti*, there is also *Samata* and *Tattva-jnana*. The perfection that the Lord bestows contains no imperfection. Just as the Lord carries the *yogakshema* (welfare and preservation) of His devotees, so too does He grant *Samata* and *Tattva-bodha* to His loving devotees. The Lord remains indebted to such devotees. He has said for the Gopis that He can never repay their debt. Devotees are so engrossed in the Lord's *bhajan* that they do not even realize that *Samata* and *Tattva-bodha* have arisen within them. If they ever do realize it, they are astonished. They pray to the Lord that they may not even perceive these qualities, but remain absorbed solely in *bhajan* and contemplation. **Context:** Hearing about the Lord's grace upon His devotees, Arjuna's attention turns towards the Lord's grace, and in the subsequent verses, he offers praises to Him.