Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 11 · Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 11.37 कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
श्लोक 11.37
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे ।
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥
kasmācca te na nameranmahātman
garīyase brahmaṇo'pyādikartre |
ananta deveśa jagannivāsa
tvamakṣaraṃ sadasattatparaṃ yat ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे महात्मन्! वे आपको नमस्कार क्यों न करें, आप तो ब्रह्मा से भी बड़े और आदि कर्ता हैं। हे अनंत! हे देवेश! हे जगन्निवास! आप ही अक्षर हैं, सत् और असत् हैं और उनसे भी परे हैं।
Meaning in English
And why should they not bow to you, O Great One, who are greater even than Brahma, the first creator? O Infinite, Lord of gods, refuge of the universe, you are the imperishable, what is and what is not, and what lies beyond both.
Bhagavad Gita 11.37 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कस्मात् | kasmāt | why |
| च | ca | and |
| ते | te | to you |
| न नमेरन् | na nameran | should they not bow |
| महात्मन् | mahātman | O great one |
| गरीयसे | garīyase | greater |
| ब्रह्मणः | brahmaṇaḥ | than Brahma |
| अपि | api | even |
| आदिकर्त्रे | ādi-kartre | the original creator |
| अनन्त | ananta | O infinite one |
| देवेश | deva-īśa | O Lord of gods |
| जगन्निवास | jagat-nivāsa | O abode of the universe |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| अक्षरम् | akṣaram | the imperishable |
| सत् असत् | sat asat | being and non-being |
| तत्परम् | tat-param | beyond that |
| यत् | yat | which |
Explanation
And why should they not bow to you, O great one, greater even than Brahma, the first creator? O infinite Lord of gods, abode of the universe, you are the Imperishable — being and non-being, and that which is beyond both. Arjuna explains why all beings rightly worship Krishna.
Krishna is called the first cause even of Brahma, the creator god. The phrase 'sat asat tat param yat' is much discussed. Shankara reads sat and asat as the manifest and the unmanifest, and the Imperishable as the reality beyond both. Ramanuja takes them as matter in its effect and causal states, with 'that beyond' referring to the pure self, all of which belong to the Lord as his body. Either way, nothing, existing or not yet existing, lies outside him.
भावार्थ
हे महात्मन्, वे आपको नमस्कार क्यों न करें, जो ब्रह्मा से भी बड़े और आदिकर्ता हैं? हे अनन्त, हे देवेश, हे जगन्निवास, आप ही अक्षर हैं — सत् और असत् भी आप हैं, और उनसे परे जो है, वह भी आप ही हैं।
Living it today
Bowing to what is greater than yourself is not weakness; it puts your life in its true proportion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 11.37?
And why should they not bow to you, O great one, greater even than Brahma, the first creator? O infinite Lord of gods, abode of the universe, you are the Imperishable — being and non-being, and that which is beyond both. Arjuna explains why all beings rightly worship Krishna.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.37?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 11.37 in daily life?
Bowing to what is greater than yourself is not weakness; it puts your life in its true proportion.
Reflected on verse 11.37?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.