In Bhagavad Gita 11.38, Arjuna says Krishna is the first God, the ancient Person, the supreme resting place of the universe, the knower and the known, the supreme abode, by whom the universe is pervaded.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण-
स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्
वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम
त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥ ११-३८ ॥
tvamādidevaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇa-
stvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam
vettāsi vedyaṃ ca paraṃ ca dhāma
tvayā tataṃ viśvamanantarūpa
English transliteration tvamaadidevah purushah puraana-
stvamasya vishvasya param nidhaanam
vettaasi vedyam cha param cha dhaama
tvayaa tatam vishvamanantaroopa ॥ 11.38 ॥
Translation / Meaning
You are the primal God, the ancient Person, the supreme resting place of this universe. You are the knower and the known, and the supreme abode. By You this universe is pervaded, O You of infinite form.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| आदिदेवः ādidevaḥ | the primal God ādi (primal) + devaḥ (God) |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | Person |
| पुराणः purāṇaḥ | ancient |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| अस्य asya | of this |
| विश्वस्य viśvasya | universe |
| परम् param | supreme |
| निधानम् nidhānam | resting place |
| वेत्ता vettā | knower |
| असि asi | are |
| वेद्यम् vedyam | the known |
| च ca | and |
| परम् param | supreme |
| च ca | and |
| धाम dhāma | abode |
| त्वया tvayā | by You |
| ततम् tatam | pervaded |
| विश्वम् viśvam | universe |
| अनन्तरूप anantarūpa | O You of infinite form ananta (infinite) + rūpa (form) |
Word-wise Chanting
- tva–mā–di–de–vaḥ pu–ru–ṣaḥ pu–rā–ṇa– 11 syllables tva-maa-di-de-vah pu-ru-shah pu-raa-na-
- stva–mas–ya viś–vas–ya pa–raṃ ni–dhā–nam | 11 syllables stva-mas-ya vish-vas-ya pa-ram ni-dhaa-nam
- vet–tā–si ved–yaṃ ca pa–raṃ ca dhā–ma 11 syllables vet-taa-si ved-yam cha pa-ram cha dhaa-ma
- tva–yā ta–taṃ viś–va–ma–nan–ta–rū–pa || 11-38 11 syllables tva-yaa ta-tam vish-va-ma-nan-ta-roo-pa
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 38
Context
Arjuna continues his hymn (11.36–11.46).
Meaning
Arjuna praises the Divine as ādi-deva, the first God, and purāṇa puruṣa, the ancient Person. It is the final resting place of the universe, both vettā, the knower, and vedya, the known, the highest abode, pervading all.
The Divine is both the subject and object of all knowledge. When we know anything, it is the Divine knowing itself through us.
In Practice
When you learn something new today, remember that the Divine is both the knower and the known.
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.