Chapter 11, Verse 38 (Bhagavad Gita 11.38)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्। वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप
Transliteration
tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣhaḥ purāṇas tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam vettāsi vedyaṁ cha paraṁ cha dhāma tvayā tataṁ viśhvam ananta-rūpa
Word Meanings
tvam—you; ādi-devaḥ—the original Divine God; puruṣhaḥ—personality; purāṇaḥ—primeval; tvam—you; asya—of (this); viśhwasya—universe; param—Supreme; nidhānam—resting place; vettā—the knower; asi—you are; vedyam—the object of knowledge; cha—and; param—Supreme; cha—and; dhāma—Abode; tvayā—by you; tatam—pervaded; viśhwam—the universe; ananta-rūpa—posessor of infinite forms
Translation
You are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, and the supreme refuge of this universe. You are the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. O Being of infinite forms, by You alone is this universe pervaded.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Arjuna recognizes Shri Krishna not merely as his charioteer, but as the Absolute Truth and the source of all existence. By addressing Him as the 'ancient Purusha,' Arjuna acknowledges that Shri Krishna is the eternal origin of time and creation. This revelation invites every seeker to shift their vision from the material world to the Divine presence that permeates every atom of existence. Through this surrender, the soul realizes that Shri Krishna is both the subject who knows and the ultimate goal to be known. Liberation, or moksha, is attained when one perceives this infinite, all-pervading form of Shri Krishna within and beyond all manifestations.