Bhagavad Gita 4.5

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

bahūni me vyatītāni

janmāni tava cārjuna

tāny ahaṁ veda sarvāṇi

na tvaṁ vettha parantapa

 

“The Lord said: Many births have passed for you and me,

O Arjuna, though you fail to see.

I recall them all, so vast and true,

But you, O scorcher of foes, have no such view.”

 

My dear Lord, in this world, it is impossible to forget my finiteness and limitations. Whenever things go against my will and I can do nothing to stop them, I am reminded of my finiteness. While physical reminders of my limitedness are significant, what is even more crucial are the reminders of my limitations at the intellectual level—where I forget even important things, including major incidents in my life. It is staggering, my Lord, that I have forgotten entire lifetimes that I have lived before my present existence. 

That I can forget something of such significance is an undeniable demonstration of my finiteness.But my dear Lord, you are infinite, and your memory is infinite. That is why your plan for my life is far better than any plan I may make for myself. Please, O Lord, bless me so that I can be centered on your plan and work accordingly, rather than judging situations solely based on my understanding or their conformity to my plan.Bless me, O Lord, with the curiosity to see how your plan is unfolding, even when my plan is unraveling.

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04.05 The Personality of Godhead said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!