Gita 15.6
Purushottama Yoga
न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः | यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ||६||
na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ | yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama ||6||
In essence: Neither sun, moon, nor fire illumines that Supreme Abode—reaching it, beings never return. That is My highest dwelling.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "If the sun and moon cannot illumine this abode, is it dark?"
Guru: "That which illumines the sun—can it be dark? Darkness is merely absence of physical light. The supreme abode is made of consciousness-light itself. Physical luminaries cast shadows because they illuminate from outside. Pure awareness has no 'outside'—it is all-pervading luminosity without contrast. It is not dark but beyond the light-dark duality entirely."
Sadhak: "This sounds abstract. How do I relate to a realm that ordinary perception cannot reach?"
Guru: "You already have access: the awareness by which you know you exist, by which you are reading these words—that is a ray of this self-luminous reality. Turn attention to the knower rather than the known, to the light rather than what it illuminates. That pivot is the beginning of 'going' to the supreme abode, which is actually recognizing where you already are."
Sadhak: "Why does Krishna call it 'My abode'? Is the destination personal or impersonal?"
Guru: "Both and neither. It is 'My abode' in the sense that Krishna, as the Supreme Person (Purushottama), is its very nature—not that He lives there like a king in a palace. The personal and impersonal are human categories that merge at this level. The devotee experiences it as the Lord's presence; the jnani experiences it as pure awareness; they are describing the same reality from different angles. The Lord does not contradict non-duality—He is its living heart."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Before engaging external light—opening eyes, checking devices—rest for a moment in the light that knows you are waking. This is the light not produced by sun, moon, or fire. Begin the day knowing that the ultimate 'place' you seek is not on any map but in this very awareness.
When the external world dazzles—bright screens, sunlight, the 'light' of success and attention—remember that all these are illuminated by something prior. The light of awareness makes all objects knowable. Pause occasionally to acknowledge this background luminosity, the unchanging light in which changing experiences appear.
As external lights dim and you prepare for sleep, rest in the self-luminous awareness that does not depend on waking. The sun sets, electric lights go off, yet you remain aware even of darkness. This awareness that survives the absence of all external light is your taste of the supreme abode. Let this recognition accompany you into sleep, as if going home to Krishna's dwelling.