Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 10 · Vibhuti Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 10.15 स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम
श्लोक 10.15
स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम ।
भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥
svayamevātmanātmānaṃ vettha tvaṃ puruṣottama |
bhūtabhāvana bhūteśa devadeva jagatpate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पुरुषोत्तम (परम पुरुष)! हे प्राणियों को उत्पन्न करने वाले, प्राणियों के ईश्वर, देवों के देव और जगत के स्वामी! आप स्वयं ही अपने आप को जानते हैं।
Meaning in English
You alone know yourself through yourself, O Purushottama (Supreme Person), source of beings, lord of beings, god of gods, master of the universe.
Bhagavad Gita 10.15 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वयम् एव | svayam eva | you yourself alone |
| आत्मना | ātmanā | by yourself |
| आत्मानम् | ātmānam | yourself |
| वेत्थ | vettha | know |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| पुरुषोत्तम | puruṣottama | O Supreme Person |
| भूतभावन | bhūta-bhāvana | O source of beings |
| भूतेश | bhūteśa | O lord of beings |
| देवदेव | deva-deva | O God of gods |
| जगत्पते | jagat-pate | O master of the universe |
Explanation
You alone know yourself by yourself, O Supreme Person, Arjuna says. He then addresses Krishna with four titles: source of all beings, lord of all beings, God of gods, master of the universe. If the gods cannot know Krishna, only Krishna can know Krishna, and so Arjuna turns to him directly for teaching.
Shankara explains that the Lord knows himself through his own knowledge, without any external means, since nothing outside him could reveal him. Ramanuja takes the verse to mean that no one can know the Lord by their own effort; he is known only as he reveals himself. The string of addresses, piled up one after another, expresses Arjuna's mounting wonder. Puruṣottama, the highest Person, will be explained in Chapter 15 as the one beyond both the perishable and the imperishable.
भावार्थ
हे पुरुषोत्तम, हे भूतों को उत्पन्न करने वाले, हे भूतों के ईश्वर, हे देवों के देव, हे जगत के स्वामी — आप स्वयं ही अपने-आप से अपने को जानते हैं।
Living it today
Some truths can only be received, not seized. Approach the deepest questions with openness rather than the urge to master them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 10.15?
You alone know yourself by yourself, O Supreme Person, Arjuna says. He then addresses Krishna with four titles: source of all beings, lord of all beings, God of gods, master of the universe. If the gods cannot know Krishna, only Krishna can know Krishna, and so Arjuna turns to him directly for teaching.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 10.15?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 10 (Vibhuti Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 10.15 in daily life?
Some truths can only be received, not seized. Approach the deepest questions with openness rather than the urge to master them.
Reflected on verse 10.15?
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