Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 5

English Translation

The Blessed Lord said O Arjuna, many lives of Mine have passed, and so have yours. I know them all, (but) you know not, O scorcher of enemies!

Detailed Commentary

In the third verse, the Lord had addressed Arjuna as His devotee and dear friend, and therefore, in the previous verse, Arjuna, without hesitation, expresses the thoughts of his heart. A strong desire to understand the mystery of the Lord's birth has arisen in Arjuna, and so the Lord, out of friendship, reveals the secret of His birth to him. When the listener has intense curiosity, the speaker cannot conceal himself. This is why even saints and great souls can reveal themselves to those who hold them in special reverence. “*Bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava ca Arjuna*” — Many births have passed for Me and for you, Arjuna, from time to time. However, My birth is distinct, and your birth (as a *jīva*) is distinct. A detailed description of this will be provided in the subsequent verses. In the twelfth verse of the second chapter, the Lord had told Arjuna that "I (the Lord), you, and these kings (*jīvas*) were not non-existent before, nor will we cease to be in the future." The Lord and His fragment, the *jīvātmā*, are both beginningless and eternal. “*Tānyahaṁ veda sarvāṇi*” — In the world, there are *jātismara* beings who possess knowledge of their past lives. Such great souls are called *yuñjāna yogīs*, who attain perfection through *sādhanā*. However, the Lord is a *yukta yogī*, who is eternally united without needing *sādhanā*. He possesses spontaneous knowledge of all His and all beings' births. There is no distinction of past, future, or present in His knowledge. His unbroken knowledge remains eternally present. “*Na tvaṁ vettha paraṁtapa*” — The main reason for not knowing one's births is the attraction to and importance given to perishable objects within the inner consciousness (*antaḥkaraṇa*). It was for this very reason that Arjuna did not want to fight. In the first chapter, he had stated that the desire for kingdom, enjoyments, and happiness is for those very kinsmen who stand in battle. Therefore, Arjuna did not have knowledge of his past lives. Accumulating possessions out of possessiveness (*mamatā-āsakti*) is called *parigraha*, and its renunciation is called *aparigraha*. When *aparigraha* is firmly established, knowledge of past lives arises. The world is constantly changing, and therefore, lack (*abhāva*) is inherent in it. Witnessing this lack gives rise to the desire in humans for that lack to be fulfilled and for more to be obtained. But the fulfillment of desires is impossible, and so the person becomes as if unconscious. Such a person, far from knowing many births, does not even know his present duty. **Connection**: In the previous verse, the Lord stated that many births have passed for Him and Arjuna. Now, in the next verse, the Lord describes the unique nature of His divine descent (*avatāra*).