In Bhagavad Gita 10.20, Krishna says he is the Self seated in the hearts of all beings, and he is the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश
सर्वभूताशयस्थितः
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च
भूतानामन्त एव च ॥ १०-२० ॥
ahamātmā guḍākeśa
sarvabhūtāśayasthitaḥ
ahamādiśca madhyaṃ ca
bhūtānāmanta eva ca
English transliteration ahamaatmaa gudaakesha
sarvabhootaashayasthitah
ahamaadishcha madhyam cha
bhootaanaamanta eva cha ॥ 10.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all beings.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहम् aham | I |
| आत्मा ātmā | the Self |
| गुडाकेश guḍākeśa | O Guḍākeśa, conqueror of sleep |
| सर्वभूताशयस्थितः sarvabhūtāśayasthitaḥ | seated in the hearts of all beings sarva (all) + bhūta (beings) + āśaya (heart) + sthitaḥ (seated) |
| अहम् aham | I |
| आदिः ādiḥ | beginning |
| च ca | and |
| मध्यम् madhyam | middle |
| च ca | and |
| भूतानाम् bhūtānām | of beings |
| अन्तः antaḥ | end |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–ha–māt–mā gu–ḍā–ke–śa 8 syllables a-ha-maat-maa gu-daa-ke-sha
- sar–va–bhū–tā–śa–yas–thi–taḥ | 8 syllables sar-va-bhoo-taa-sha-yas-thi-tah
- a–ha–mā–diś–ca madh–yaṃ ca 8 syllables a-ha-maa-dish-cha madh-yam cha
- bhū–tā–nā–man–ta e–va ca || 10-20 8 syllables bhoo-taa-naa-man-ta e-va cha
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 20
Context
Krishna begins the list of his glories with the most important (10.20–10.42).
Meaning
Before naming any outer glory, Krishna names the innermost: he is the ātmā, the Self, in the heart of every being. He is also their ādi, madhya and anta, the beginning, the middle and the end. The first and greatest vibhūti is the Divine as our own innermost Self.
All the outer manifestations that follow are secondary to this. The Divine is closest to us as our own deepest Self.
In Practice
Rest your attention in the heart for a few minutes, sensing the Self that dwells there.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.