Chapter 9, Verse 17 (Bhagavad Gita 9.17)
Chapter 9: Rāja Vidyā Yog – Yoga through the King of Sciences
Sanskrit Shloka
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः। वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च
Transliteration
pitāham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ vedyaṁ pavitram oṁkāra ṛik sāma yajur eva cha
Word Meanings
pitā—Father; aham—I; asya—of this; jagataḥ—universe; mātā—Mother; dhātā—Sustainer; pitāmahaḥ—Grandsire; vedyam—the goal of knowledge; pavitram—the purifier; om-kāra—the sacred syllable Om; ṛik—the Rig Veda; sāma—the Sama Veda; yajuḥ—the Yajur Veda; eva—also; cha—and
Translation
I am the father of this world, the mother, the dispenser of the fruits of actions, and the grandfather; the one thing to be known, the purifier, the sacred monosyllable (Om), and also the Rik, Sama, and Yajur Vedas.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound declaration, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals Himself as the ultimate source, sustenance, and destination of all existence. By identifying Himself as both the father and mother, Shri Krishna establishes that He is the singular origin of every soul and the nourishing force behind all creation. He emphasizes that He is the architect of karma, ensuring the perfect balance of justice through the fruits of our actions. By claiming to be the sacred Om and the essence of the Vedas, Shri Krishna invites the seeker to look past material complexity and recognize Him in every aspect of spiritual knowledge. Ultimately, this verse calls for the total surrender of the soul to Shri Krishna, as He is the only truth worth knowing for the attainment of eternal liberation.