Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

Now Krishna will start speaking in first person:

Bg 15.6

na tad bhāsayate sūryo
na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

Synonyms: 

na — not; tat — that; bhāsayate — illuminates; sūryaḥ — the sun; na — nor; śaśāṅkaḥ — the moon; na — nor; pāvakaḥ — fire, electricity; yat — where; gatvā — going; na — never; nivartante — they come back; tat dhāma— that abode; paramam — supreme; mama — My.

Translation: 

That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.

 

na tad bhāsayate sūryo, that abode, what is that abode? Which is talked in the previous verses, that it will be attained by surrender. So that is not illumined by the sun, 

na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ, it is not illumined by the moon or by the fire 

yad gatvā na nivartante, having gone there one doesn’t return back

why? 

tad dhāma paramaṁ mama, that is my Supreme Abode.

When Krishna is talking about / or focusing on material world He is talking Himself as third person but when He focuses beyond this world then He talks about Him in the First Person. 

So what it is indicating that it is not illumined by all these things that indicates that this abode is self illuminious not depend on anything for its illumination. Sun moon etc. may be there but that is not needed, in this world these things are required to dispel darkness but in spiritual world there is no darkness. When moon is in the sky at the time of Sharad Purnima that is simply to enhance Rasa. 

Here Srila Prabhupada has mentioned as electricity and fire someone may wonder from where Srila Prabhupada has mentioned electricity. In Isho Upanishad purport we have seen that there is similar verse in Mundak Upanishad where Vidhuta is mentioned. So in that sense it is not wrong. Srila Prabhupada wanted to convey the point that it is self illuminious. Point is not to split the hair. Electricity is ultimately recycled solar energy as if Sun was not there in no form electricity can be generated. 

When an ancient scripture is translated it has two aspects how precisely it is translated and how much relevance it is for the current readers. How it will add value to their life how it will benefit them. So there is no need for any external source of illumination that is well conveyed by saying electricity in not required (as present time immediately when people think about light they think about electricity).

Also this verse can be taken in a symbolic sense:

na tad bhāsayate sūryo

Sun gives illumination by which we see forms; we are able to see things. 

So na tad bhāsayate sūryo means that which cannot be perceived by eyes.

na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ

Moon is associated with the mind, that thing which cannot be conceived by mind. 

na pāvakaḥ, fire is associated by fiery speech, that which cannot be described by the words. Inconceivable.

Such is My abode. And when one goes there one does not come back from there.

So for this purpose a devotee should be more attached to the devotional service as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu quoted the vrata of the Avanti Brahmana He said that I will cross over the insurmountable material existence by holding on determinately the devotional service of the Lord. So more we become attached to Krishna more we will be liberated from material world and ultimately we will attain spiritual world. Which is ultimate perfection of life.

End of transcription.