In Bhagavad Gita 10.33, Krishna says that among letters he is A, among compounds the dual compound; he is inexhaustible time and the sustainer whose face is everywhere.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि
द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च
अहमेवाक्षयः कालो
धाताहं विश्वतोमुखः ॥ १०-३३ ॥
akṣarāṇāmakāro’smi
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
ahamevākṣayaḥ kālo
dhātāhaṃ viśvatomukhaḥ
English transliteration aksharaanaamakaaro’smi
dvandvah saamaasikasya cha
ahamevaakshayah kaalo
dhaataaham vishvatomukhah ॥ 10.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among letters I am the letter A; among compounds I am the dual compound. I alone am inexhaustible time; I am the sustainer, facing in all directions.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अक्षराणाम् akṣarāṇām | among letters |
| अकारः akāraḥ | the letter A |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| द्वन्द्वः dvandvaḥ | the dual compound |
| सामासिकस्य sāmāsikasya | among compounds |
| च ca | and |
| अहम् aham | I |
| एव eva | alone |
| अक्षयः akṣayaḥ | inexhaustible |
| कालः kālaḥ | time |
| धाता dhātā | sustainer |
| अहम् aham | I |
| विश्वतोमुखः viśvatomukhaḥ | facing in all directions viśvataḥ (all directions) + mukhaḥ (facing) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–kṣa–rā–ṇā–ma–kā–ro–‘smi 8 syllables a-ksha-raa-naa-ma-kaa-ro-‘smi
- dvan–dvaḥ sā–mā–si–kas–ya ca | 8 syllables dvan-dvah saa-maa-si-kas-ya cha
- a–ha–me–vā–kṣa–yaḥ kā–lo 8 syllables a-ha-me-vaa-ksha-yah kaa-lo
- dhā–tā–haṃ viś–va–to–mu–khaḥ || 10-33 8 syllables dhaa-taa-ham vish-va-to-mu-khah
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 33
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
“A” is the first letter of the alphabet and is present in every consonant; the dvandva compound joins words as equals. The Divine is also akṣaya kāla, endless time, and dhātā, the sustainer whose face is turned toward everything at once.
The letter A, which gives sound to all others, is a beautiful image of the Divine, present in everything as its life.
In Practice
When you speak today, notice the open sound “a” that sustains every word, and remember the Divine sustaining all.
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.