Chapter 10, Verse 33 (Bhagavad Gita 10.33)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च। अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताऽहं विश्वतोमुखः
Transliteration
अहमेवाक्षय: कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुख: || 33|| akṣharāṇām a-kāro ’smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya cha aham evākṣhayaḥ kālo dhātāhaṁ viśhvato-mukhaḥ
Word Meanings
akṣharāṇām—amongst all letters; a-kāraḥ—the beginning letter “A”; asmi—I am; dvandvaḥ—the dual; sāmāsikasya—amongst grammatical compounds; cha—and; aham—I; eva—only; akṣhayaḥ—endless; kālaḥ—time; dhātā—amongst the creators; aham—I; viśhwataḥ-mukhaḥ—Brahma
Translation
Among the letters of the alphabet, I am the letter 'A' and the dual among compounds. I am verily the inexhaustible and everlasting time; I am the dispenser of the fruits of actions, having faces in all directions.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Shri Krishna reveals His omnipresence by identifying Himself with the essential foundations of language and time. By declaring Himself as the letter 'A', the primordial sound from which all speech originates, Bhagwan Shri Krishna shows that He is the very source of manifestation. He further identifies as eternal time and the ultimate ordainer of karma, reminding the seeker that every consequence of action is orchestrated by His divine will. Recognizing Him in everything empowers the devotee to transcend duality and perceive the Supreme Lord everywhere. This vision of Shri Krishna as the 'Visvatoh-mukha' or the one with faces in all directions is the key to liberation, inviting the soul to surrender into the eternal, all-pervading consciousness.