In the previous verse, Krishna addressed those who mistake His divine, transcendental nature for that of an ordinary human being. He described them as lacking the intelligence to perceive His true form. Today, we delve into verse 7.25, a profound teaching that addresses a question every spiritual seeker asks at some point: 'If God is everywhere, why can't I see Him? Is He hiding from me?' Often, we feel that God is playing a game of hide-and-seek, or perhaps we think we are not 'good enough' to deserve His sight. But Krishna reveals a truth that shatters these misconceptions.
Think about the frantic pace of your modern life—the endless emails, the pressure to maintain a 'perfect' social media presence, the anxiety about your career trajectory, and the loneliness in the middle of a crowded city. We spend our lives looking for fulfillment in these things, and when we don't find it, we blame the lack of spiritual connection on God’s distance. We think there is a wall between us and the Divine. Krishna tells us here that the wall is not made of stone; it is made of 'Yogmaya,' an illusion crafted by our own attachments and desires.
A common misconception among youth today is that meditation is a process of 'summoning' God to appear in a vision. People often feel discouraged when they sit for ten minutes, their minds race about work or relationships, and they don't see any miracles. They think they are failing. But Krishna explains that God is not 'hiding' in a distant location; He is omnipresent. The illusion is not that He is invisible, but that we are blinded by our own focus on material gains and temporary identities. The 'veil' isn't there to block us; it’s there to protect our free will.
This verse is a bridge for the modern seeker. It explains the 'why' behind our struggle. If you are feeling lost or disconnected, understand that you are not failing your spiritual practice; you are simply under the influence of the same cosmic power that keeps the soul focused on the world for the sake of its own evolution. When you realize the nature of this illusion, the frustration of 'not finding God' transforms into a patient, steady journey of self-discovery.
Let’s set aside the restlessness of the day. Imagine sitting in a quiet space, ready to understand the mechanics of reality. As we read these words of Krishna, try to see yourself not as a separate entity begging for a glance from the Divine, but as a soul that is beginning to clear the dust off the mirror of its own consciousness. The journey isn't to go somewhere else; it’s to look clearly right here, right now.
॥ ७.२५ ॥
नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः |
मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम् ||
Simple Meaning:
Naham prakashah sarvasya — I am not revealed to everyone. Yogamayasamavritah — I am veiled by My internal potency (Yogmaya). Mudho'yam — This foolish (ignorant) world. Nabhijanati — does not know. Loko mamajamavyayam — this world does not know Me as the unborn and the inexhaustible.
Krishna is saying that He is not manifest to all because He keeps Himself covered by His 'Yogmaya.' This isn't a sign of exclusion; it is a manifestation of His supreme intelligence. If the Absolute Truth were visible to every sense-obsessed individual, the world would lose its purpose as a school for the soul. He remains hidden to those who seek Him with material eyes, but He is ever-present to those who seek Him with the eyes of knowledge and devotion.
Key takeaways: 1. Your struggle to 'see' God is a universal condition caused by Yogmaya. 2. Krishna is 'Aj' (unborn) and 'Avyaya' (imperishable); He cannot be perceived by decaying, temporary senses. 3. The veil is not a punishment, but a divine arrangement. 4. Breaking this veil requires transcending the 'foolishness' of identifying only with the body and mind.
Swami Ramsukhdas Ji: Swami Ramsukhdas Ji emphasizes the term 'Yogamayasamavritah.' He explains that Krishna has deliberately covered Himself with His own Yogmaya. Swami Ji points out that the mistake is not in God, but in our perspective. He uses the beautiful analogy of clouds and the sun: the clouds do not hide the sun from the entire universe; they only block our view of the sun from where we are standing. Similarly, our 'mudhata' (ignorance) creates a cloud of material attachment that blocks our vision of the Lord.
Swami Ji instructs that 'Avyaya' (imperishable) refers to Krishna's nature, which is beyond time and change. When we try to fit Krishna into the box of our human expectations—expecting Him to behave like a mortal or to fulfill our petty material desires—we fail to recognize Him. His perspective is simple: discard the ego that says 'I am the body,' and the Yogmaya that obscures the Divine will naturally lift. He says that the truth is always there; we just need to stop looking at the darkness.
Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Prabhupada: Prabhupada approaches this from the angle of pure Bhakti. He argues that Krishna can never be understood by speculative knowledge or mental gymnastics. He says, 'Those who are simply engaged in material sense gratification cannot perceive the Supreme Personality of Godhead.' Prabhupada explains that Yogmaya is Krishna's internal potency, acting as a wall for those who prefer the illusion of the material world over the service of the Lord.
Prabhupada emphasizes that when one takes to Krishna Consciousness, the Lord Himself removes the curtain of Yogmaya. He frames this as a loving, gentle practice rather than a forceful one. For a devotee, the Yogmaya is no longer a barrier but a protective covering that helps the soul stay focused on serving Krishna. He insists that instead of trying to 'force' God to appear, we should engage our senses in His service, and He will reveal Himself in due time.
Swami Mukundananda Ji: Swami Mukundananda brings a modern, psychological approach to this verse. He uses the analogy of a theater screen. When we watch a movie, we get so immersed in the plot that we cry or get angry at the characters, forgetting that the story is merely playing out on a screen. He says that the world is the 'movie' and our attachment to it is the Yogmaya. We are so absorbed in the 'drama' of our lives—our office politics, our relationship dramas—that we ignore the 'screen' (God) that makes the whole experience possible.
For the youth, Swami Ji offers practical advice: 'Your attention is your currency.' Every time you focus on social media or anxiety, you are paying your attention to the illusion. He explains that the practice of meditation is like a gym workout for the mind. When you try to focus on Krishna, your mind will wander. That is the nature of the mind. The 'workout' isn't in keeping the mind still; the workout is in noticing the wander and bringing it back. Every time you bring the mind back, you are weakening the grip of Yogmaya and strengthening your connection to the Divine.
Real-Life Scenarios:
Imagine you are sitting at your desk, overwhelmed by a project. Your mind is racing, 'I can't do this,' 'I am not good enough.' You feel a physical tightness in your chest. Instead of spiraling, you pause and realize, 'This stress is part of the worldly drama, a piece of the Yogmaya.' By acknowledging this, you step back. You become the observer. You do the work not because you are terrified of the outcome, but as an offering. This is the moment you have pierced the veil.
Consider your relationship life. You might feel hurt by someone's words. You start to think, 'This person has ruined my happiness.' Here, the Yogmaya makes you see only the physical interaction. If you remember 7.25, you realize that the soul inside that person is also part of the Divine, and your own reaction is just the mind playing its role. You gain clarity. You move from emotional reactivity to spiritual maturity.
In meditation, you sit down, and for the first ten minutes, you are just thinking about your to-do list. You feel frustrated. You think, 'This is useless.' But then you remember the lesson: the mind's wandering is the nature of the world. You gently bring your attention back to your mantra or the form of Krishna. That moment of 'returning' is where the magic happens. It is the real act of devotion.
Self Q&A:
Q1: Is my struggle to see God a special problem?
Ans: Not at all. As Swami Ramsukhdas Ji points out, this is the inherent nature of Yogmaya. Every soul in this world faces this challenge. You are not failing; you are participating in the cosmic process of purification.
Q2: Does God ever voluntarily remove this veil?
Ans: Yes, as Swami Mukundananda explains, God is waiting for your initiative. The moment you consciously choose to direct your attention toward Him, He is more than ready to meet you halfway and reveal His presence.
Q3: Is the material world 'evil'?
Ans: It is not evil, but it is a tool. Prabhupada explains that if used for sense gratification, it acts as a barrier (Yogmaya). If used for service to the Lord, that same world becomes a bridge to Him.
Q4: How do I stop the mind from wandering during meditation?
Ans: Don't fight the mind. Use the 'repetition' strategy. Every time the mind wanders, bring it back without judgment. That act of returning is how you build your spiritual stamina.
Q5: How does this link to the previous verse?
Ans: The previous verse defined Krishna's divine status, and this verse explains why we struggle to perceive it. It is the logical progression from understanding 'Who He is' to 'Why we miss Him' and 'How to reconnect.'
🙏 Hare Krishna — Jai Shri Krishna 🙏
📖 Also Read: Is God Formless? Breaking the Great Spiritual Myth 🙏