Chapter 10, Verse 20

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः।
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च।।10.20।।

aham ātmā guḍākeśha sarva-bhūtāśhaya-sthitaḥ
aham ādiśh cha madhyaṁ cha bhūtānām anta eva cha

aham — I;
ātmā — soul;
guḍākeśha — Arjun, the conqueror of sleep;
sarva-bhūta — of all living entities;
āśhaya-sthitaḥ — seated in the heart;
aham — I;
ādiḥ — the beginning;
cha — and;
madhyam — middle;
cha — and;
bhūtānām — of all beings;
antaḥ — end;
eva — even;
cha — also

In this verse, Krishna speaks to Arjuna, whom He calls ‘Gudakesa’. This name shows that Arjuna has overcome the darkness of ignorance or the confusion that can make it hard to see things clearly. It’s like when a person wakes up from a deep sleep and can finally see and understand what is around them.

Krishna points out that He is not just an external being or a powerful figure. Instead, He is the very essence of life—the 'Self' found in everyone’s heart. This means that all living beings are connected through the presence of this divine self. It’s important to realize that when we look at others, we should also see a part of the same divine presence within them.

When Krishna says that He is the 'beginning, middle, and end' of all beings, He is telling us that everything in existence comes from Him, exists through Him, and will eventually return to Him. Imagine all life and everything we see in nature—from the smallest insect to the largest mountain; they all have a source, a life force, and that force is Krishna.

This idea can help us understand our place in the world. We are not separate from others; instead, we are all part of a larger whole. By recognizing this connection and the divine presence within ourselves and others, it can guide us to live more peacefully and compassionately.

Furthermore, because Arjuna has freed himself from ignorance, he is in a good position to learn deeper truths about the universe and divine nature. Krishna is willing to share these insights because Arjuna is ready to understand them.

In summary, Krishna’s message is about unity, connection, and recognizing the divine that resides within all living beings. This is a comforting thought—it shows that we are never truly alone and that there’s a greater purpose behind our existence.