Chapter 5 - Verse 15

Wisdom and Unwisdom.

In reality,

नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः ।
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ १५ ॥

nādatte kasyacitpāpaṃ na caiva sukṛtaṃ vibhuḥ .
ajñānenāvṛtaṃ jñānaṃ tena muhyanti jantavaḥ .. 15 ..


The Lord takes neither the evil nor even the good deed of any; wisdom is enveloped by unwisdom; thereby mortals are deluded.
Read the commentary

Of any: even of His devotees.

(Question):—With what object then is done by devotees any meritorious act,—an act of worship, sacrifice, or charity, the offering of an oblation into the fire, or the like?

(Answer):—The Lord says in reply; Discriminative knowledge is enveloped by ignorance. mortal creatures in samsara are deluded and think, “I act, I cause to act, I shall enjoy, I cause to enjoy,” and so on.