In Bhagavad Gita 11.37, Arjuna asks why the great beings should not bow to Krishna, who is greater even than Brahma, the infinite Lord, refuge of the universe, the imperishable, being and non-being, and what is beyond both.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥ ११-३७ ॥
kasmācca te na nameranmahātman
garīyase brahmaṇo’pyādikartre
ananta deveśa jagannivāsa
tvamakṣaraṃ sadasattatparaṃ yat
English transliteration kasmaachcha te na nameranmahaatman
gareeyase brahmano’pyaadikartre
ananta devesha jagannivaasa
tvamaksharam sadasattatparam yat ॥ 11.37 ॥
Translation / Meaning
And why should they not bow to You, O great Being, who are greater even than Brahma, the original creator? O infinite Lord of the gods, refuge of the universe, You are the Imperishable, being and non-being, and that which is beyond both.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कस्मात् kasmāt | why |
| च ca | and |
| ते te | to You |
| न na | not |
| नमेरन् nameran | should bow |
| महात्मन् mahātman | O great Being |
| गरीयसे garīyase | greater |
| ब्रह्मणः brahmaṇaḥ | than Brahmā |
| अपि api | even |
| आदिकर्त्रे ādikartre | the original creator ādi (original) + kartre (creator) |
| अनन्त ananta | O infinite |
| देवेश deveśa | Lord of the gods |
| जगन्निवास jagannivāsa | refuge of the universe |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| अक्षरम् akṣaram | the Imperishable |
| सत् sat | being |
| असत् asat | non-being |
| तत् tat | that |
| परम् param | beyond |
| यत् yat | which |
Word-wise Chanting
- kas–māc–ca te na na–me–ran–ma–hāt–man 11 syllables kas-maach-cha te na na-me-ran-ma-haat-man
- ga–rī–ya–se brah–ma–ṇo–‘pyā–di–kar–tre | 11 syllables ga-ree-ya-se brah-ma-no-‘pyaa-di-kar-tre
- a–nan–ta de–ve–śa ja–gan–ni–vā–sa 11 syllables a-nan-ta de-ve-sha ja-gan-ni-vaa-sa
- tva–ma–kṣa–raṃ sa–da–sat–tat–pa–raṃ yat || 11-37 11 syllables tva-ma-ksha-ram sa-da-sat-tat-pa-ram yat
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 11 Verse 37
Context
Arjuna continues his hymn (11.36–11.46).
Meaning
The Divine is greater even than Brahmā, the first creator. It is ananta, infinite, and jagan-nivāsa, the dwelling place of the universe. It is the akṣara, imperishable; it is both sat and asat, the manifest and unmanifest; and it is beyond both.
The Divine includes all categories and transcends them all. No concept can contain it.
In Practice
Let go of a fixed idea you hold about the Divine, and rest in the awareness that it is beyond all ideas.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). 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.