In Bhagavad Gita 11.39, Arjuna says Krishna is Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati and the great-grandsire, and offers him salutations a thousand times, again and again.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः
प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च
नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः
पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ॥ ११-३९ ॥
vāyuryamo’gnirvaruṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ
prajāpatistvaṃ prapitāmahaśca
namo namaste’stu sahasrakṛtvaḥ
punaśca bhūyo’pi namo namaste
English transliteration vaayuryamo’gnirvarunah shashaankah
prajaapatistvam prapitaamahashcha
namo namaste’stu sahasrakritvah
punashcha bhooyo’pi namo namaste ॥ 11.39 ॥
Translation / Meaning
You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna and the moon; You are Prajapati and the great-grandsire. Salutations, salutations to You a thousand times, and again and again salutations, salutations to You!
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वायुः vāyuḥ | Vāyu, wind |
| यमः yamaḥ | Yama |
| अग्निः agniḥ | Agni, fire |
| वरुणः varuṇaḥ | Varuṇa |
| शशाङ्कः śaśāṅkaḥ | the moon |
| प्रजापतिः prajāpatiḥ | Prajāpati |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| प्रपितामहः prapitāmahaḥ | the great-grandsire |
| च ca | and |
| नमः नमः namaḥ namaḥ | salutations, salutations |
| ते te | to You |
| अस्तु astu | be |
| सहस्रकृत्वः sahasrakṛtvaḥ | a thousand times sahasra (thousand) + kṛtvaḥ (times) |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| च ca | and |
| भूयः bhūyaḥ | again |
| अपि api | also |
| नमः नमः namaḥ namaḥ | salutations, salutations |
| ते te | to You |
Word-wise Chanting
- vā–yur–ya–mo–‘gnir–va–ru–ṇaḥ śa–śāṅ–kaḥ 11 syllables vaa-yur-ya-mo-‘gnir-va-ru-nah sha-shaan-kah
- pra–jā–pa–tis–tvaṃ pra–pi–tā–ma–haś–ca | 11 syllables pra-jaa-pa-tis-tvam pra-pi-taa-ma-hash-cha
- na–mo na–mas–te–‘stu sa–has–ra–kṛt–vaḥ 11 syllables na-mo na-mas-te-‘stu sa-has-ra-krit-vah
- pu–naś–ca bhū–yo–‘pi na–mo na–mas–te || 11-39 11 syllables pu-nash-cha bhoo-yo-‘pi na-mo na-mas-te
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 39
Context
Arjuna continues his hymn (11.36–11.46).
Meaning
All the great deities, wind, death, fire, water, the moon and Prajāpati the progenitor, are the Divine. It is even the prapitāmaha, the great-grandsire, the source of Brahmā himself. Overflowing with reverence, Arjuna repeats namaḥ, salutations, again and again, a thousand times.
Repetition is the natural language of overwhelming devotion. When the heart is full, words repeat themselves.
In Practice
Repeat a simple salutation to the Divine several times today, letting the words carry your feeling.
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.