Chapter 7, Verse 7 (Bhagavad Gita 7.7)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय। मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव
Transliteration
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñchid asti dhanañjaya mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
Word Meanings
mattaḥ—than me; para-taram—superior; na—not; anyat kiñchit—anything else; asti—there is; dhanañjaya—Arjun, conqueror of wealth; mayi—in me; sarvam—all; idam—which we see; protam—is strung; sūtre—on a thread; maṇi-gaṇāḥ—beads; iva—like
Translation
O Arjuna, there is nothing higher than Me. Everything in this universe is strung upon Me, like clusters of gems on a thread.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna reveals Himself as the ultimate substratum of existence, the singular thread that holds the diversity of the cosmos together. Just as pearls are distinct yet held by a single string, all beings are unique but inherently unified in Lord Krishna’s consciousness. This teaching invites the seeker to look beyond the superficial forms of the world and recognize the constant presence of Lord Krishna in every experience. By realizing this divine interconnectedness, we transcend the illusions of separateness and ego, finding deep peace. Practical life becomes a form of worship when we perceive Lord Krishna as the very essence supporting our own existence and the world around us.