FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 7.25

नाहं प्रकाश: सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृत: । मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम् ॥ २५ ॥
nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
[naaham prakaashah sarvasya]
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ
[yoga-maayaa-samaavritah]
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti
[moodho ’yam naabhijaanaati]
loko mām ajam avyayam
[loko maam ajam avyayam]
Word-for-word
na — nor aham — I prakāśaḥ — manifest sarvasya — to everyone yoga - māyā — by internal potency samāvṛtaḥ — covered mūḍhaḥ — foolish ayam — these na — not abhijānāti — can understand lokaḥ — persons mām — Me ajam — unborn avyayam — inexhaustible .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
na
nor
aham
I
prakāśaḥ
manifest
sarvasya
to everyone
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ
yoga - māyā
by internal potency
samāvṛtaḥ
covered
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti
mūḍhaḥ
foolish
loko mām ajam avyayam
ayam
these
na
not
abhijānāti
can understand
lokaḥ
persons
mām
Me
ajam
unborn
avyayam
inexhaustible .
Important Words
  • prakāśaḥ — manifest
    From pra + √kāś (to shine). 'Shining-forth.' Kṛṣṇa's self-manifestation. With na — He does not shine forth indiscriminately. There is a regulator on His visibility.
  • yoga - māyā — by internal potency
    Compound: yoga (joining, conjunction) + māyā (energy). The internal potency that coordinates Kṛṣṇa's transcendental appearances. Distinct from mahā-māyā (the external, deluding potency of 7.14). Yoga-māyā does not delude — she calibrates.
  • samāvṛtaḥ — covered
    Past participle of sam + ā + √vṛ (to cover, to envelop). Kṛṣṇa is covered for the foolish — not by their delusion but by His own internal potency. He chooses the curtain. This is theologically important.
  • mūḍhaḥ — foolish
    Recurring word from 7.13 and 7.15. Bewildered. The same root that produces moha. The verse identifies the receiver-side problem precisely: not God's hiddenness, but the seer's fog.
  • ajam — unborn
    Privative compound: a- (not) + ja (born). 'Unborn.' Paired in the verse with avyayam (inexhaustible) — two negations together summarize Kṛṣṇa's eternal personal nature. What the fools fail to recognize is precisely these two attributes.
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Kṛṣṇa is not on universal display. A veiling power — yoga-māyā — keeps Him hidden from the bewildered. This is not modesty but pedagogy: He is unborn and imperishable, but the deluded world misreads Him precisely because of this covering.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Yoga-māyā here is distinct from the deluding māyā of 7.14 (mahā-māyā): it is His self-concealing energy that allows him to appear in līlā without revealing the full Bhagavān-ness. To those without bhakti He looks like just another being. The Vaiṣṇava tradition develops this into the doctrine of antaraṅgā-śakti — internal potency — that simultaneously reveals and conceals. Compare BG 9.11.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
योग-माया-समावृतः अहं सर्वस्य प्रकाशः न (अस्मि); अयं मूढः लोकः माम् अजम् अव्ययं न अभिजानाति ।
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ ahaṃ sarvasya prakāśaḥ na (asmi); ayaṃ mūḍhaḥ lokaḥ mām ajam avyayaṃ na abhijānāti |
Veiled by My yoga-māyā, I am not manifest to all; this deluded world does not recognize Me — unborn and imperishable.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
न अहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योग-माया-समावृतः । मूढः अयं न अभिजानाति लोकः माम् अजम् अव्ययम् ॥
na ahaṃ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ | mūḍhaḥ ayaṃ na abhijānāti lokaḥ mām ajam avyayam ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
न na ind. (neg.) not
अहम् aham अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular) I
प्रकाशः prakāśaḥ प्रकाश (adj./m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) manifest / visible
सर्वस्य sarvasya सर्व (adj.) gen.sg. (genitive singular)m. to everyone
योग-माया-समावृतः yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ योग + माया + समावृत p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) covered by yoga-māyā
मूढः mūḍhaḥ √मुह् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. deluded
अयम् ayam इदम् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. this
अभिजानाति abhijānāti अभि+√ज्ञा pres. (present) 3sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) fully knows
लोकः lokaḥ लोक (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) world / people
माम् mām अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Me
अजम् ajam अज (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. unborn
अव्ययम् avyayam अव्यय (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. imperishable
Purport

It may be argued that since Kṛṣṇa was visible to everyone when He was present on this earth, how can it be said that He is not manifest to everyone? But actually He was not manifest to everyone. When Kṛṣṇa was present there were only a few people who could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the assembly of Kurus, when Śiśupāla spoke against Kṛṣṇa’s being elected president of the assembly, Bhīṣma supported Him and proclaimed Him to be the Supreme God. Similarly, the Pāṇḍavas and a few others knew that He was the Supreme, but not everyone. He was not revealed to the nondevotees and the common man. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa says that but for His pure devotees, all men consider Him to be like themselves. He was manifest only to His devotees as the reservoir of all pleasure. But to others, to unintelligent nondevotees, He was covered by His internal potency. In the prayers of Kuntī in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.8.19) it is said that the Lord is covered by the curtain of yoga-māyā and thus ordinary people cannot understand Him. This yoga-māyā curtain is also confirmed in the Īśopaniṣad (Mantra 15), in which the devotee prays: hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasyāpihitaṁ mukham tat tvaṁ pūṣann apāvṛṇu satya-dharmāya dṛṣṭaye “O my Lord, You are the maintainer of the entire universe, and devotional service to You is the highest religious principle. Therefore, I pray that You will also maintain me. Your transcendental form is covered by the yoga-māyā. The brahma-jyotir is the covering of the internal potency. May You kindly remove this glowing effulgence that impedes my seeing Your sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha, Your eternal form of bliss and knowledge.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental form of bliss and knowledge is covered by the internal potency of the brahma-jyotir, and the less intelligent impersonalists cannot see the Supreme on this account. Also in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.7) there is this prayer by Brahmā: “O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Supersoul, O master of all mystery, who can calculate Your potency and pastimes in this world? You are always expanding Your internal potency, and therefore no one can understand You. Learned scientists and learned scholars can examine the atomic constitution of the material world or even the planets, but still they are unable to calculate Your energy and potency, although You are present before them.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is not only unborn but also avyaya, inexhaustible. His eternal form is bliss and knowledge, and His energies are all inexhaustible.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
25. Being covered by My yoga-māyā, I am not visible at all times even to My devotees in My spiritual abodes. And the foolish do not understand that I, though appearing as the son of Vasudeva, am without birth and certainly have no material birth.
Commentary

“If You have eternal form, qualities and pastimes, then why do we not see these things at all times?” “I am not manifest to all people living at all times and places. I am always present with My associates, qualities and pastimes in some universe, at some time, but just as the sun is not visible to all people at all times, but only sometimes, since it gets covered by Mount Meru, I also am not visible at all times, being covered by yoga-māyā. Though the sun is situated within the zodiac and is always present there for all the living beings, it is not visible to all people at all times and places. Similarly I am not visible to all people at all times in the various sections of Bhārata.” “But as the sun is always visible in its own abode, why is Kṛṣṇa not always visible to all the people presently dwelling in His abodes such as Mathurā and Dvārakā?” “Since Meru is present in the middle of the zodiac, then the sun, when covered, is not visible. In the same way, within Kṛṣṇa’s effulgent abodes, yoga-māyā is always present like Meru. Kṛṣṇa, like the sun, covered by that Meru in the form of yoga-māyā, is not visible constantly, but only sometimes. This is all without fault. As well, the foolish people do not understand that I, in My form as Śyāmasundara (mām), though appearing as Vasudeva’s son (ajam), am free from material birth (ajam avyayam). Thus, finally rejecting Me, the ocean of auspicious qualities, they worship My impersonal aspect, Brahman.”

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
25. Being covered by My yogamāyā, I am not visible to all these people. The foolish do not do not know Me, who am without birth and unchanging in qualities.
Commentary

“The non-devotees, as well as the devotees, cause your appearance in this world. How is it then that you are visible only out of mercy to the devotees?” I, filled with eternal knowledge and bliss, endowed with infinitely auspicious qualities and activities, am visible to the devotees. But I am not visible to any of the non-devotees at all, because I am covered by yoga māyā, by māyā endowed with a method (yoga) of bewildering those who are opposed to Me. It is said: māyā-javanikācchanna-mahimne brahmaṇe namaḥ [Note: ātma-dyota-guṇaiś channa-mahimne brahmaṇe namaḥ is found in SB 10.10.33. māyā-javanikācchannam ātmānaṁ kālam īśvaram is found in SB 10.84.23.] I offer my respects to the Supreme Lord whose glory is covered by the curtain of māyā. These people (ayam lokaḥ), bewildered by māyā (muḍhaḥ), do not know Me, though I am praised by Brahmā and Śiva and have powers beyond men and devatās. What type of person am I? They do not know Me as a person who has no birth. This is because I am without change (avyayam): My form, powers, omniscience and other qualities are unchanging in their natures.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is why they don't understand. Because they are covered by Krsna's internal potency ‑ 'yoga‑maya‑samavrtah'. They are mudhas, they are fools. They receive greater condemnation than the demigods' worshipers. These people cannot see Krsna. There is a covering for them. But is that Krsna cannot see them?

[ F . THE BEWILDERMENT OF THE LIVING ENTITY AND HIS FREEDOM THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA (7. 26‑30) 1. The living entity's bewilderment: Krsna, however, knows all and is thus different from these foolish living entities who are born into delusion and are bewildered by dualities arising from desire and hate. (26‑27) ]

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

“Result” for Impersonalists

Supreme Lord (Absolute Truth) hides from foolish and unintelligent
Gets covered by internal potency
They do not know Lord as “unborn and infallible”

Focus of Learning

(a) Why Krishna does not reveal to everyone now, just like when He descended on earth

Krishna revealed only to pure devotees and not to common man, for example, only to Pandavas, Bhisma and few others and not to non-devotees like Shisupal etc.
Ref. Bg. – Except devotees, all consider Him as ordinary
Yogamaya curtain – puts the curtain of Brahmajyoti, which is the covering of the internal potency; therefore the impersonalists cannot see
Ref. SB 1.8.19 – Kunti Maharani’s prayers
Ref. Isopanishad Mantra 15
Brahma’s prayers (Ref. SB 10.14.7) – It is difficult to calculate the inexhaustible potencies,
Because You are always expanding your internal potency
e.g. Learned scholars and scientists who can even study the atom, but cannot calculate Your inexhaustible potencies

(a) Based on Bhagavad-gita

Krishna Himself speaks Bg. 7.24 (Impersonalists are unintelligent) in His personal form
Bg. 4.6 mentions Lord is “aja” (unborn), but still appears
Bg. 7.20 and Bg. 7.23: Demigods and Lord Himself as having their personal planets which points out to personalism
Bg. 9.11: Fools deride Me as human

(b) From different devotees/Acaryas

Yamunacharya – “only devotees like Vyasadeva and Narada Muni can know Your form and activities, non devotees under passion and ignorance can never know.
Brahma Samhita – Supreme Personality of Godhead not known by study of scriptures like Vedanta literatures but by mercy of the Lord.
Sankaracharya – Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead (His followers do not accept, and therefore they are even less intelligent because they do not follow their predecessors)

(c) Why called Abuddhayah

Because no knowledge of ultimate feature (Bhagavan) of Absolute truth (Ref: SB)

(d) Vedanta Sutra – Absolute truth is “ananda – mayo’byasat”

Full of unlimited bliss and auspicious qualities

(e) How one cannot understand Krishna

By mental speculation or by simply discussing Vedic literatures (Ref. SB 10.14.29)

(f) How one can understand – Only by devotional service, beginning with chanting

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
7.25 Yoga-maya-samavrtah, being enveloped by yoga-maya-Yoga means the combination, the coming together, of the (three) gunas; that (combination) is itself maya, yoga-maya; being enveloped, i.e. veiled, by that yoga-maya; aham, I; na prakasah, do not become manifest; sarvasya, to all, to the world. The idea is that I become manifest only to some devotees of Mine. For this very reason, ayam, this; mudhah, deluded; lokah, world; na abhijanati, does not know; mam, Me; who am ajam, birthless; and avyayam, undecaying. [In verse 13 the reason for the non-realization of the supreme, unalified Brahman was stated. The present verse states the reason for the non-realization of the alified Brahman.] 'That yoga-maya, because of My being covered by which the world does not know Me- that yoga-maya, since it belongs to Me, does not obstruct the knowlege of Me who am God, the possessor of maya, just as the magic of any other magician does not cover his knowledge.' Since this is so, therefore-
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
7.25 Concealed by the Maya called Yogamaya, I am associated with a human form and other generic structures which are special to individual selves. Because of this I am not manifest to all. The foolish, by seeing in Me merely the human or the other generic structures, do not know that My powers are greater than those of Vayu and Indra, that My lustre is more brilliant than that of sun and fire, that though visible to all, I am unborn, immutable, the cause of all the worlds, the Lord of all, and that I have assumed a human form, so that all who want can take refuge in Me.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
7.25 See Comment under 7.26
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
7.25 I am not manifest to all (as I am) veiled by the Yoga-Maya. This deluded world does not know Me, the unborn and imperishable.
Commentary

7.25 न not? अहम् I? प्रकाशः manifest? सर्वस्य of all? योगमायासमावृतः veiled by YogaMaya? मूढः deluded? अयम् this? न not? अभिजानाति knows? लोकः world? माम् Me? अजम् unborn? अव्ययम् imperishable.Commentary I am not manifest to all the people? but I am certainly manifest to the chosen few who are My devotees? who have taken sole refuge in Me alone. I am not visible to those who are deluded by the three Gunas and the pairs of opposites? and who are screened off by this universe which is a manifestation of the alities of Nature? My YogaMaya or My creative illusion. This veils the understanding of the worldlyminded people. So they are not able to behold the Lord Who keeps Maya under His perfect control.YogaMaya is the union of the three alities of Nature. The illusion or veil spread thery is called YogaMaya. The worldly people are deluded by the illusion born of the union of the three alities. Therefore? they are not able to know the Lord Who is unborn and immutable.This YogaMaya is under the perfect control of the Lord. Isvara is the wielder of Maya. Therefore it cannot obscure His own knowledge? just as the illusion created by the juggler cannot obstruct his,own knowledge or deceive him. The illusion which binds the worldly people cannot in the least affect the Lord Who has kep Maya under his perfect subjugation. (Cf.VII.13IX.5X.7XI.8)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
7.25 Being enveloped by yoga-maya, I do not become manifest to all. This deluded world does not know Me who am birthless and undecaying.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
7.25 I am not visible to all, for I am enveloped by the illusion of Phenomenon. This deluded world does not know Me as the Unborn and the Imperishable.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)
Related verses
BG 9.11 BG 4.6 BG 7.13 SB 10.14.7 SB 1.1.20 SB 7.1.10 CC Madhya 21.101 CC Ādi 3.89 CC Madhya 9.194 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.23Īśa Upaniṣad 15
Concepts
Maya
Study Q&A referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
I am never manifest to the foolish; covered by My internal potency, I am unrecognized by the bewildered.
Practical Applications
  • Don't expect Kṛṣṇa to perform for you to validate your faith.
  • Recognize bewilderment as the issue.
  • Pray for clearing of bewilderment, not for proofs.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I been demanding proofs?
  • What would clearing of bewilderment open up?
Analogy

The sun is not hiding behind a cloud — the cloud is hiding the viewer. Same sun, same sky; the obstruction is on this side of the eye. Yoga-māyā is the cloud, and Kṛṣṇa's choice to be unmanifest to the foolish is not coyness — it is the precise calibration of revelation to the seer's readiness.

Stories
Kaṁsa's wrestlers seeing different Kṛṣṇas

When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered Kaṁsa's wrestling arena, the Bhāgavatam records that different people in the same crowd saw Him differently — the wrestlers saw a thunderbolt, the king saw death, the women saw Cupid embodied, the cowherds saw their friend, His parents saw their child, the yogis saw the Supreme Brahman.

One Lord, one body, one moment — many perceptions filtered through yoga-māyā. The verse's principle in operation: He is not equally manifest to all because all are not equally ready. The foolish saw, but did not see — covered by His own internal potency.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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