In Bhagavad Gita 11.44, Arjuna bows and prostrates, seeking Krishna’s grace, and asks him to forbear as a father with a son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं
प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्
पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः
प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥ ११-४४ ॥
tasmātpraṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ
prasādaye tvāmahamīśamīḍyam
piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ
priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum
English transliteration tasmaatpranamya pranidhaaya kaayam
prasaadaye tvaamahameeshameedyam
piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuh
priyah priyaayaarhasi deva sodhum ॥ 11.44 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I seek Your grace, O adorable Lord. As a father forgives his son, a friend his friend, a lover the beloved, so please forgive me, O God.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| प्रणम्य praṇamya | bowing down |
| प्रणिधाय praṇidhāya | prostrating |
| कायम् kāyam | body |
| प्रसादये prasādaye | I seek grace |
| त्वाम् tvām | You |
| अहम् aham | I |
| ईशम् īśam | Lord |
| ईड्यम् īḍyam | adorable |
| पिता pitā | father |
| इव iva | as |
| पुत्रस्य putrasya | of a son |
| सखा sakhā | friend |
| इव iva | as |
| सख्युः sakhyuḥ | of a friend |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | lover |
| प्रियायाः priyāyāḥ | of the beloved |
| अर्हसि arhasi | please |
| देव deva | O God |
| सोढुम् soḍhum | to forgive |
Word-wise Chanting
- tas–māt–pra–ṇam–ya pra–ṇi–dhā–ya kā–yaṃ 11 syllables tas-maat-pra-nam-ya pra-ni-dhaa-ya kaa-yam
- pra–sā–da–ye tvā–ma–ha–mī–śa–mīḍ–yam | 11 syllables pra-saa-da-ye tvaa-ma-ha-mee-sha-meed-yam
- pi–te–va put–ras–ya sa–khe–va sakh–yuḥ 11 syllables pi-te-va put-ras-ya sa-khe-va sakh-yuh
- pri–yaḥ pri–yā–yār–ha–si de–va so–ḍhum || 11-44 11 syllables pri-yah pri-yaa-yaar-ha-si de-va so-dhum
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 44
Context
Arjuna continues his hymn (11.36–11.46).
Meaning
Arjuna prostrates his whole body and seeks prasāda, grace. He asks the Divine to forbear with him in three intimate ways: as a father with a son, as a friend with a friend, and as a lover with the beloved. These are the relationships of love that naturally forgive.
The verse reveals that the Divine relates to us in all forms of love. Its forgiveness is as natural as a parent’s, a friend’s or a lover’s.
In Practice
Ask the Divine for forgiveness today with the trust of a child before a loving parent.
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.