In Bhagavad Gita 8.9, Krishna describes the Supreme to be meditated on: the all-knowing, ancient ruler, subtler than the subtlest, sustainer of all, of inconceivable form, radiant like the sun, beyond darkness.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कविं पुराणमनुशासितार-
मणोरणीयंसमनुस्मरेद्यः
सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूप-
मादित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात् ॥ ८-९ ॥
kaviṃ purāṇamanuśāsitāra-
maṇoraṇīyaṃsamanusmaredyaḥ
sarvasya dhātāramacintyarūpa-
mādityavarṇaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt
English transliteration kavim puraanamanushaasitaara-
manoraneeyamsamanusmaredyah
sarvasya dhaataaramachintyaroopa-
maadityavarnam tamasah parastaat ॥ 8.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who meditates on the all-knowing, the ancient, the ruler, subtler than the subtle, the sustainer of all, of inconceivable form, radiant like the sun and beyond all darkness,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कविम् kavim | the all-knowing |
| पुराणम् purāṇam | the ancient |
| अनुशासितारम् anuśāsitāram | the ruler |
| अणोः aṇoḥ | than the subtle |
| अणीयांसम् aṇīyāṃsam | subtler |
| अनुस्मरेत् anusmaret | meditates |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of all |
| धातारम् dhātāram | sustainer |
| अचिन्त्यरूपम् acintyarūpam | of inconceivable form acintya (inconceivable) + rūpam (form) |
| आदित्यवर्णम् ādityavarṇam | radiant like the sun āditya (sun) + varṇam (colour) |
| तमसः tamasaḥ | darkness |
| परस्तात् parastāt | beyond |
Word-wise Chanting
- ka–viṃ pu–rā–ṇa–ma–nu–śā–si–tā–ra– 11 syllables ka-vim pu-raa-na-ma-nu-shaa-si-taa-ra-
- ma–ṇo–ra–ṇī–yaṃ–sa–ma–nus–ma–red–yaḥ | 11 syllables ma-no-ra-nee-yam-sa-ma-nus-ma-red-yah
- sar–vas–ya dhā–tā–ra–ma–cin–tya–rū–pa– 11 syllables sar-vas-ya dhaa-taa-ra-ma-chin-tya-roo-pa-
- mā–dit–ya–var–ṇaṃ ta–ma–saḥ pa–ras–tāt || 8-9 11 syllables maa-dit-ya-var-nam ta-ma-sah pa-ras-taat
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 8 Verse 9
Context
Krishna describes the object of meditation; the sentence continues into 8.10.
Meaning
This verse is a meditation in itself. The Supreme is kavi, the seer who knows all; purāṇa, the most ancient; anuśāsitṛ, the inner ruler; subtler than the subtlest atom; dhātṛ, the sustainer of everything; acintya-rūpa, beyond the reach of thought; shining like the sun, beyond all darkness.
Each phrase can be held in the mind as a point of contemplation. Together they describe a reality that is both infinitely subtle and infinitely radiant. Meditation on such qualities lifts the mind beyond its ordinary concerns.
In Practice
Choose one phrase from this verse, such as “radiant like the sun, beyond all darkness,” and meditate on it for a few minutes.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). 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.