yaj jñātvā na punar moham evaṁ yāsyasi pāṇḍava
yena bhūtānyaśheṣheṇa drakṣhyasyātmanyatho mayi
yat — which;
jñātvā — having known;
na — never;
punaḥ — again;
moham — delusion;
evam — like this;
yāsyasi — you shall get;
pāṇḍava — Arjun, the son of Pandu;
yena — by this;
bhūtāni — living beings;
aśheṣhāṇi — all;
drakṣhyasi — you will see;
ātmani — within me (Shree Krishna);
atho — that is to say;
mayi — in me
This verse presents an important realization we can have when we gain true knowledge from a wise and enlightened person. It tells us that once we learn and understand this truth, we'll see that all living beings are actually connected to something greater, which is often referred to as Lord Krishna in this context.
Imagine you have a big tree. Each leaf, branch, and flower is alive and part of that tree. In the same way, all living beings—humans, animals, plants, etc.—are like those leaves and branches that come from a larger source, which is Krishna. When we feel like we are separate from Krishna or that he is just a distant figure from history, we are under a kind of illusion called 'maya'. This word means being blind to the reality that we are all connected to the divine source.
Some people think of the divine as a vast, impersonal energy or force, almost like a cloudy sky without any distinct forms. But this verse emphasizes that this energy is actually the personal essence of Krishna, who is the source of EVERYTHING. Many teachings, like the Brahma-samhita, state clearly that Krishna is the Supreme Being from whom all things come. Think of Krishna as the root of a plant; everything else grows or expands from that root.
It's also important to understand what the Mayavadi philosophers think. They believe that when Krishna expands into different forms, He loses His original nature, which is not true according to this teaching. In the physical world, when something splits, it often loses its original identity—like cutting a cake into pieces. But in the spiritual or absolute world, Krishna remains whole and complete regardless of how many forms or expansions He takes on. It’s like how the ocean remains the ocean even if we scoop out some water in a cup.
This means that while we may feel different or separate, at our core, we are all part of this one ultimate reality, which is Krishna. Understanding this connection helps one rise above feelings of isolation and separation, recognizing that we are all intimately tied to a greater existence. In essence, learning this truth encourages a sense of unity with all beings and a deeper understanding of our spiritual nature.