In Bhagavad Gita 9.17, Krishna says he is the father of this world, its mother, sustainer and grandsire, the object of knowledge, the purifier, the syllable Om and the Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पिताहमस्य जगतो
माता धाता पितामहः
वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार
ऋक्साम यजुरेव च ॥ ९-१७ ॥
pitāhamasya jagato
mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ
vedyaṃ pavitramoṅkāra
ṛksāma yajureva ca
English transliteration pitaahamasya jagato
maataa dhaataa pitaamahah
vedyam pavitramonkaara
riksaama yajureva cha ॥ 9.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the father of this world, the mother, the sustainer and the grandsire; the object of knowledge, the purifier, the syllable Om, and also the Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पिता pitā | father |
| अहम् aham | I |
| अस्य asya | of this |
| जगतः jagataḥ | world |
| माता mātā | mother |
| धाता dhātā | sustainer |
| पितामहः pitāmahaḥ | grandsire |
| वेद्यम् vedyam | object of knowledge |
| पवित्रम् pavitram | purifier |
| ओङ्कारः oṅkāraḥ | the syllable Om |
| ऋक् ṛk | the Ṛg Veda |
| साम sāma | the Sāma Veda |
| यजुः yajuḥ | the Yajur Veda |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
Word-wise Chanting
- pi–tā–ha–mas–ya ja–ga–to 8 syllables pi-taa-ha-mas-ya ja-ga-to
- mā–tā dhā–tā pi–tā–ma–haḥ | 8 syllables maa-taa dhaa-taa pi-taa-ma-hah
- ved–yaṃ pa–vit–ra–moṅ–kā–ra 8 syllables ved-yam pa-vit-ra-mon-kaa-ra
- ṛk–sā–ma ya–ju–re–va ca || 9-17 8 syllables rik-saa-ma ya-ju-re-va 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 9 Verse 17
Context
Krishna continues to reveal himself in all things (9.16–9.19).
Meaning
The Divine is related to the world in every intimate way: as pitā, father, and mātā, mother; as dhātā, sustainer; and as pitāmaha, grandsire, the source even of the creator. It is also the vedya, what is to be known, the pavitra, purifier, Om, and the three Vedas.
The Divine is not distant but as close as a parent. This invites a relationship of trust and love, like that of a child with its mother and father.
In Practice
Relate to the Divine today as a loving parent. Share a concern with it as a child would.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.