Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 15 | Verse 17

Chapter 15, Verse 17

The Yoga of the Supreme Person

Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Lord Himself, who has entered into these worlds and is maintaining them.

Verse

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः।यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।।15.17।।

uttamaḥ puruṣhas tv anyaḥ paramātmety udāhṛitaḥ
yo loka-trayam āviśhya bibharty avyaya īśhvaraḥ

Meaning of each word

uttamaḥ — the Supreme;
puruṣhaḥ — Divine Personality;
tu — but;
anyaḥ — besides;
parama-ātmā — the Supreme Soul;
iti — thus;
udāhṛitaḥ — is said;
yaḥ — who;
loka trayam — the three worlds;
āviśhya — enters;
bibharti — supports;
avyayaḥ — indestructible;
īśhvaraḥ — the controller

Interpretation

In this verse, it explains that beyond all the living beings we see in the world, there is a very special and supreme being, called the Lord or Paramatma. This Supreme Being is like the ultimate power or force that exists. He is different from the many souls, some of whom might be stuck in troubles while others might be free.

The verse refers to an idea found in ancient texts that say there is a 'Supreme Soul' among all the souls. Think of it this way: if you imagine many tiny lights (the living beings), there is one big sun (the Supreme Personality) that shines above them all. This Supreme Being is always there, looking after everyone and everything in the universe. Just as the sun gives light and energy to everything on Earth, this Supreme Personality supports and maintains the entire universe.

This Supreme Being is in every person's heart, which means He is close to us, guiding us and helping us. But to truly understand this great personality and feel His presence, we need wisdom. People who recognize Him can find true peace in their lives. It’s like being lost in a dark room until you find a light switch. The moment you discover and understand this Supreme Being, you can find comfort and clarity, while those who do not realize this continue to wander in confusion.

So, the main message is that beyond all our struggles, there is this ultimate source of support and peace, and knowing Him deeply can change everything for us.

Other Verses of Chapter 15

Verse 1
The Blessed Lord said: There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

Verse 2
The branches of this tree extend downward and upward, nourished by the three modes of material nature. The twigs are the objects of the senses. This tree also has roots going down, and these are bound to the fruitive actions of human society.

Verse 3
Its form is not perceived here as such, nor its end, origin, foundation, or resting place; having cut asunder this firmly rooted peepul tree with the strong axe of non-attachment.

Verse 4
Then, that goal should be sought for, to which, having gone, none returns again. I seek refuge in that Primeval Purusha, from whence streamed forth the ancient activity or energy.

Verse 5
One who is free from illusion, false prestige, and false association, who understands the eternal, who is done with material lust and is freed from the duality of happiness and distress, and who knows how to surrender unto the Supreme Person, attains to that eternal kingdom.

Verse 6
That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world.

Verse 7
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.

Verse 8
The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas.

Verse 9
The living entity, thus taking another gross body, obtains a certain type of ear, tongue, and nose and sense of touch, which are grouped about the mind. He thus enjoys a particular set of sense objects.

Verse 10
The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.

Verse 11
The endeavoring transcendentalist, who is situated in self-realization, can see all this clearly. But those who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try to.

Verse 12
The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.

Verse 13
I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables.

Verse 14
I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff.

Verse 15
I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

Verse 16
There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every entity is called infallible.

Verse 18
Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person.

Verse 19
Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata.

Verse 20
This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection.

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