Chapter 15, Verse 18 (Bhagavad Gita 15.18)
Chapter 15: Puruṣhottam Yog – The Yoga of the Supreme Divine Personality
Sanskrit Shloka
यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः।अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः
Transliteration
yasmāt kṣharam atīto ’ham akṣharād api chottamaḥ ato ’smi loke vede cha prathitaḥ puruṣhottamaḥ
Word Meanings
yasmāt—hence; kṣharam—to the perishable; atītaḥ—transcendental; aham—I; akṣharāt—to the imperishable; api—even; cha—and; uttamaḥ—transcendental; ataḥ—therefore; asmi—I am; loke—in the world; vede—in the Vedas; cha—and; prathitaḥ—celebrated; puruṣha-uttamaḥ—as the Supreme Divine Personality
Translation
Because I transcend the perishable and am even higher than the imperishable, I am celebrated in the world and in the Vedas as the Supreme Person, Purushottama.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound declaration, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals His absolute supremacy, positioning Himself beyond both the material world of changing forms and the eternal, unchanging substratum of Brahman. He explicitly identifies Himself as Purushottama, the Supreme Being who encompasses and yet exceeds all of existence. By recognizing Shri Krishna as the ultimate source, a seeker transcends the limitations of worldly illusion and finds the path to true liberation. This realization shifts one’s focus from the finite to the infinite, establishing an eternal relationship with the Lord. Ultimately, Shri Krishna invites the soul to surrender unto Him, who is the origin of the Vedas and the final destination of every living being.