mṛityuḥ sarva-haraśh chāham udbhavaśh cha bhaviṣhyatām
kīrtiḥ śhrīr vāk cha nārīṇāṁ smṛitir medhā dhṛitiḥ kṣhamā
mṛityuḥ — death;
sarva-haraḥ — all-devouring;
cha — and;
aham — I;
udbhavaḥ — the origin;
cha — and;
bhaviṣhyatām — those things that are yet to be;
kīrtiḥ — fame;
śhrīḥ — prospective;
vāk — fine speech;
cha — and;
nārīṇām — amongst feminine qualities;
smṛitiḥ — memory;
medhā — intelligence;
dhṛitiḥ — courage;
kṣhamā — forgiveness
In this verse, Krishna is talking about the nature of life and death. He starts by pointing out that death is a part of life – it’s something that affects every living being. From the moment we are born, we also begin to die little by little. This might sound sad, but it’s a fundamental part of existence. Every moment we live, we face the time ticking away. So, when Krishna refers to himself as 'all-devouring death,' he’s reminding us that death is a significant force in life – it’s inevitable and it will come to all of us.
Krishna then goes on to say that he is also the origin or generator of all things that are yet to come. This means that while death is a constant that we cannot escape, new life and new possibilities keep emerging. For every ending, there's a new beginning. Krishna represents the cycle of life where everything is interconnected. Just as we face death, we also create new experiences and lives. He symbolizes hope and new beginnings as well.
The verse transitions to discuss what he specifically represents among women, stating that he embodies qualities like fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, faithfulness, and patience. This means that the good and admirable traits that many people seek in life, particularly in women, are aspects of Krishna. For example, 'fame' represents recognition for one's deeds, while 'fortune' relates to prosperity and success. 'Speech' signifies the ability to communicate effectively, while 'intelligence' is about understanding and wisdom. Each of these qualities can lead to a more fulfilling life and contributes to the societal appreciation of women.
So essentially, Krishna is saying that while death is a powerful and consuming reality, he also embodies qualities that enrich human life. Understanding this duality helps us realize that life is about balance – we must embrace the reality of death while also celebrating and nurturing the qualities that foster life and connection among people.