4.5 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 4, Verse 5

In Bhagavad Gita 4.5, Lord Krishna addresses a fundamental question from Arjuna regarding how Krishna could have instructed the Sun god Vivasvan thousands of years ago. Krishna reveals a profound truth about His divine nature by stating that both He and Arjuna have passed through many births, but with one crucial difference: Krishna remembers all of these previous lives, while Arjuna cannot recall his past existences.

This verse marks a significant moment in the dialogue as Krishna begins to reveal His transcendental position to Arjuna. By explaining His ability to remember all past births, Krishna distinguishes His consciousness from that of ordinary beings, including even elevated souls like Arjuna (whom He addresses as "Parantapa" or "subduer of enemies"). This revelation challenges Arjuna's understanding of Krishna, whom he had primarily viewed as a friend and charioteer until this point.

The verse introduces an important theological concept in the Gita – the eternal nature of both God and the living entities. Krishna and all living beings are qualitatively similar in that both are eternal, conscious, and by nature joyful (described in Sanskrit as "sac-cid-ananda"). However, there exists a crucial distinction in that Krishna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintains perfect awareness across all existences, while the ordinary soul's memory is limited by material conditioning.

Krishna is described in scripture as "acyuta" or infallible, meaning He never forgets His divine nature regardless of His various appearances in the material world. This quality separates Him fundamentally from ordinary living entities who become covered by material nature and forget their true spiritual identity. This difference in consciousness – Krishna's perfect memory versus Arjuna's forgetfulness – illustrates the ontological gap between God and even the most elevated souls.

The verse also indirectly introduces the concept of divine incarnations or "avataras." Krishna hints at His ability to appear in various forms throughout cosmic history while maintaining His divine consciousness. Unlike ordinary beings whose bodies and memories change with each birth, Krishna's spiritual form remains transcendental even when He appears within the material world. This revelation helps explain how Krishna could have instructed the Sun god in a previous age while appearing as Arjuna's contemporary in the present.

Beyond the theological implications, this verse offers a profound insight into the nature of existence itself. It establishes that consciousness and identity continue beyond a single lifetime, reinforcing the Gita's central teaching about the eternal nature of the soul. When Krishna tells Arjuna, "many births both you and I have passed," He confirms the reality of reincarnation while simultaneously highlighting the special position of the Supreme Being who maintains awareness across all of these transitions.

This revelation serves as a foundation for Krishna's subsequent teachings about His divine nature and His relationship with the material world. By establishing His transcendental memory and consciousness, Krishna prepares Arjuna to receive deeper knowledge about spiritual reality. The verse marks a turning point in their dialogue, as Krishna begins to shift from practical instruction about duty toward more profound revelations about His own divine nature and the eternal spiritual science that He has taught throughout the ages.