श्री भगवानुवाचबहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन ।
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले हे परन्तप अर्जुन मेरे और तेरे बहुतसे जन्म हो चुके हैं । उन सबको मैं जानता हूँ, पर तू नहीं जानता ॥
English
Krishna said: Many births of yours and mine have passed, Arjuna. I know them all, but you do not, enemy-burner.
What this verse means
Krishna says that both of them have passed through many births, but only Krishna remembers them all. Arjuna does not remember his own past births.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna questions how Krishna could have taught the ancient sun-god long ago. Krishna answers by shifting the frame: both of them have crossed many births, but only Krishna remembers them fully. The teaching prepares Arjuna for a deeper truth about Krishna's timeless nature.
Why this verse still matters
You argue from memory, but the other person sees the whole pattern. In a family conflict, you remember only the last hurt; the deeper story stretches far beyond what you can hold.
The takeaway
It softens pride and confusion: your present view is limited, but reality is larger than what you can recall.
Word-by-word translation
श्री भगवानुवाच (the Blessed Lord said) / बहूनि (many) / मे (my) / व्यतीतानि (passed) / जन्मानि (births) / तव (your) / च (and) / अर्जुन (Arjuna) / तानि (those) / अहं (I) / वेद (know) / सर्वाणि (all) / न (not) / त्वं (you) / वेत्थ (know) / परन्तप (enemy-burner)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: arjuna (52 verses), krishna (31 verses)