In Bhagavad Gita 11.40, Arjuna offers salutations to Krishna in front, behind and on all sides, for he is all; of infinite power and boundless might, he pervades all and therefore is all.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते
नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व
अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं
सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥ ११-४० ॥
namaḥ purastādatha pṛṣṭhataste
namo’stu te sarvata eva sarva
anantavīryāmitavikramastvaṃ
sarvaṃ samāpnoṣi tato’si sarvaḥ
English transliteration namah purastaadatha prishthataste
namo’stu te sarvata eva sarva
anantaveeryaamitavikramastvam
sarvam samaapnoshi tato’si sarvah ॥ 11.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Salutations to You in front and behind; salutations to You on every side, O All. Infinite in power, boundless in might, You pervade everything; therefore You are everything.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नमः namaḥ | salutations |
| पुरस्तात् purastāt | in front |
| अथ atha | and |
| पृष्ठतः pṛṣṭhataḥ | behind |
| ते te | to You |
| नमः namaḥ | salutations |
| अस्तु astu | be |
| ते te | to You |
| सर्वतः sarvataḥ | on every side |
| एव eva | indeed |
| सर्व sarva | O All |
| अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमः anantavīryāmitavikramaḥ | infinite in power and boundless in might ananta (infinite) + vīrya (power) + amita (boundless) + vikramaḥ (might) |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| सर्वम् sarvam | everything |
| समाप्नोषि samāpnoṣi | pervade |
| ततः tataḥ | therefore |
| असि asi | You are |
| सर्वः sarvaḥ | everything |
Word-wise Chanting
- na–maḥ pu–ras–tā–da–tha pṛṣ–ṭha–tas–te 11 syllables na-mah pu-ras-taa-da-tha prish-tha-tas-te
- na–mo–‘stu te sar–va–ta e–va sar–va | 11 syllables na-mo-‘stu te sar-va-ta e-va sar-va
- a–nan–ta–vīr–yā–mi–ta–vik–ra–mas–tvaṃ 11 syllables a-nan-ta-veer-yaa-mi-ta-vik-ra-mas-tvam
- sar–vaṃ sa–māp–no–ṣi ta–to–‘si sar–vaḥ || 11-40 11 syllables sar-vam sa-maap-no-shi ta-to-‘si sar-vah
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 40
Context
Arjuna continues his hymn (11.36–11.46).
Meaning
Arjuna bows in every direction, because the Divine is everywhere. He calls it sarva, the All. Since it pervades everything, it is everything. There is no place where the Divine is not.
Bowing in all directions is a powerful practice: it reminds us that the Divine surrounds us completely.
In Practice
Turn slowly in a full circle today, bowing inwardly in each direction to the Divine present there.
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.