Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Verse 10.12
अर्जुन उवाच परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान्। पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम्।।10.12।।
arjuna uvācha paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣhaṁ śhāśhvataṁ divyam ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; param—Supreme; brahma—Brahman; param—Supreme; dhāma—Abode; pavitram—purifier; paramam—Supreme; bhavān—you; puruṣham—personality; śhāśhvatam—Eternal; divyam—Divine; ādi-devam—the Primal Being; ajam—the Unborn; vibhum—the Great;
Translation · English
Arjuna said, "You are the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier, eternal, divine Person, the primeval God, unborn, and omnipresent."
Deep Meaning · English
In this pivotal verse, Arjuna transcends his role as a friend and chariot driver to recognize Krishna as the ultimate ontological reality. By applying the terms 'Param Brahma' and 'Param Dhama,' Arjuna elevates Krishna from a localized historical figure to the foundational substrate of all existence. He is not merely describing a deity; he is articulating the Advaitic realization that the source of the universe (Brahman), the destination of the soul (Dhama), and the sanctifying presence (Pavitram) are unified in the person of Krishna. This acknowledgment marks the climax of Arjuna's shifting perspective, moving from confusion on the battlefield to a clear, contemplative vision of the Divine as the underlying truth of all form and action. The specific attributes chosen—eternal, unborn, and all-pervading—serve to reconcile the impersonal Absolute with the personal Godhead. By addressing Krishna as 'Adi-devam,' the Primal Being, Arjuna acknowledges that even before the dawn of creation and the manifestation of the gods, the divine personality existed as the root of all divinity. This verse serves as the meditative bridge for the reader, inviting one to see their own immediate circumstances not as mundane occurrences, but as unfolding manifestations of the eternal, divine consciousness that transcends and permeates everything.
Arjuna realizes that Krishna is not just a participant in the cosmic play, but the eternal, unborn, and all-pervading consciousness that serves as both the source and the ultimate shelter of all existence.
Connected Verses
Describes the Brahman that has no beginning and is beyond existence and non-existence, echoing the 'Param Brahma' and 'Ajam' aspects mentioned here.
Arjuna reiterates his profound reverence, acknowledging Krishna as the immutable and ultimate protector of the eternal dharma.
Expands on the concept of the Unmanifest pervading all existence, supporting the idea of Krishna as the 'Vibhum' or Great All-Pervading.
Establishes Krishna as the thread upon which everything is strung, mirroring his role as the all-pervading substratum.
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