In Bhagavad Gita 7.7, Krishna says there is nothing higher than him; all this is strung on him like pearls on a thread.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्
किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय
मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं
सूत्रे मणिगणा इव ॥ ७-७ ॥
mattaḥ parataraṃ nānyat
kiñcidasti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvamidaṃ protaṃ
sūtre maṇigaṇā iva
English transliteration mattah parataram naanyat
kinchidasti dhananjaya
mayi sarvamidam protam
sootre maniganaa iva ॥ 7.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There is nothing whatsoever higher than Me, O Dhananjaya. All this is strung on Me like pearls on a thread.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मत्तः mattaḥ | than Me |
| परतरम् parataram | higher |
| न na | not |
| अन्यत् anyat | other |
| किञ्चित् kiñcit | anything |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
| मयि mayi | on Me |
| सर्वम् sarvam | all |
| इदम् idam | this |
| प्रोतम् protam | strung |
| सूत्रे sūtre | on a thread |
| मणिगणाः maṇigaṇāḥ | pearls, gems maṇi (gems) + gaṇāḥ (groups) |
| इव iva | like |
Word-wise Chanting
- mat–taḥ pa–ra–ta–raṃ nān–yat– 8 syllables mat-tah pa-ra-ta-ram naan-yat-
- kiñ–ci–das–ti dha–nañ–ja–ya | 8 syllables kin-chi-das-ti dha-nan-ja-ya
- ma–yi sar–va–mi–daṃ pro–taṃ 8 syllables ma-yi sar-va-mi-dam pro-tam
- sūt–re ma–ṇi–ga–ṇā i–va || 7-7 8 syllables soot-re ma-ni-ga-naa i-va
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 7 Verse 7
Context
Krishna reveals himself as the unifying principle of all things.
Meaning
The image is simple and profound. Many pearls of different sizes and colours are held together on a single thread. The thread is hidden, yet without it the necklace would fall apart. Similarly, the Divine is the invisible thread on which all beings and worlds are strung.
We tend to notice only the pearls: the variety of things and beings. The verse invites us to sense the thread: the one reality that connects and sustains everything. Seeing this thread brings a sense of unity and meaning.
In Practice
Look at a necklace or string of beads. Let it remind you of the invisible Divine thread running through all the varied beings around you.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). 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.