Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Verse 38 Meaning
You are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. Through You, the universe is pervaded, O Being of infinite forms.
BG 11.38
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्। वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप
tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣhaḥ purāṇas tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam vettāsi vedyaṁ cha paraṁ cha dhāma tvayā tataṁ viśhvam ananta-rūpa
Meaning
You are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. Through You, the universe is pervaded, O Being of infinite forms.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 11.38 Mean?
You are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. Situated within the chapter on The Universal Form, this verse contributes to the Gita's exploration of divine awe and its relationship to cosmic vision. The connection between divine awe and cosmic vision that this verse draws is central to the Gita's vision. Unlike traditions that separate the spiritual from the practical, Krishna consistently shows that genuine understanding must express itself in how we live, relate, and act.
What makes this teaching enduringly relevant is its refusal to separate the spiritual from the ordinary. The very situations that challenge us become the ground of practice when approached with the understanding this verse provides.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 11.38?
Arjuna receives divine vision to see Krishna's cosmic universal form.
Key themes in this chapter include Universal form, Divine vision, Awe.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 11.38 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with universal form
- •When practicing divine vision amid uncertainty
- •When applying awe to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 11.32
The Blessed Lord said, "I am the full-grown, world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile armies will live."
BG 11.33
Therefore, stand up and obtain fame. Conquer the enemies and enjoy the unparalleled kingdom. Verily, by Me they have already been slain; be thou a mere instrument, O Arjuna.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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