In Bhagavad Gita 14.27, the last verse of Chapter 14, Krishna says he is the foundation of Brahman, of the immortal and imperishable, of eternal dharma and of absolute bliss.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहम्
अमृतस्याव्ययस्य च
शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य
सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥ १४-२७ ॥
brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham
amṛtasyāvyayasya ca
śāśvatasya ca dharmasya
sukhasyaikāntikasya ca
English transliteration brahmano hi pratishthaaham
amritasyaavyayasya cha
shaashvatasya cha dharmasya
sukhasyaikaantikasya cha ॥ 14.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For I am the foundation of Brahman, the immortal and imperishable; of eternal dharma; and of absolute bliss.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ब्रह्मणः brahmaṇaḥ | of Brahman |
| हि hi | for |
| प्रतिष्ठा pratiṣṭhā | foundation |
| अहम् aham | I |
| अमृतस्य amṛtasya | of the immortal |
| अव्ययस्य avyayasya | of the imperishable |
| च ca | and |
| शाश्वतस्य śāśvatasya | of eternal |
| च ca | and |
| धर्मस्य dharmasya | of dharma |
| सुखस्य sukhasya | of bliss |
| ऐकान्तिकस्य aikāntikasya | absolute |
| च ca | and |
Word-wise Chanting
- brah–ma–ṇo hi pra–tiṣ–ṭhā–ham– 8 syllables brah-ma-no hi pra-tish-thaa-ham-
- a–mṛ–tas–yāv–ya–yas–ya ca | 8 syllables a-mri-tas-yaav-ya-yas-ya cha
- śāś–va–tas–ya ca dhar–mas–ya 8 syllables shaash-va-tas-ya cha dhar-mas-ya
- su–khas–yai–kān–ti–kas–ya ca || 14-27 8 syllables su-khas-yai-kaan-ti-kas-ya cha
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 14 Verse 27
Context
The final verse of Chapter 14 explains why devotion to Krishna leads beyond the gunas.
Meaning
The Divine is the pratiṣṭhā, the foundation, of Brahman itself, of immortality, of eternal righteousness and of aikāntika sukha, the perfect, unbroken happiness. Devotion to the Divine therefore leads to all of these.
Commentators explain this in different ways: the personal Divine as the ground of the impersonal Brahman, or Brahman and the Divine as one reality. In either reading, the Divine is the final refuge.
In Practice
Take refuge today in the Divine as the foundation of every good you seek: peace, truth and joy.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). 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.