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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 15 | Verse 18

Chapter 15, Verse 18

The Yoga of the Supreme Person

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

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः।अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः।।15.18।।


yasmāt kṣharam atīto ’ham akṣharād api chottamaḥ
ato ’smi loke vede cha prathitaḥ puruṣhottamaḥ

Meaning of each word

yasmāt — hence;
kṣharam —
to the perishable;
atītaḥ —
transcendental;
aham —
I;
akṣharāt —
to the imperishable;
api —
even;
cha —
and;
uttamaḥ —
transcendental;
ataḥ —
therefore;
asmi —
I am;
loke —
in the world;
vede —
in the Vedas;
cha —
and;
prathitaḥ —
celebrated;
puruṣha-uttamaḥ —
as the Supreme Divine Personality

Interpretation

In this verse, Krishna is telling us something very important about Himself. He is saying that He is beyond everything that can change or perish. This means He is not affected by anything that happens in the material world, where everything is temporary and can disappear or change. For example, think about how we experience life—sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad, and everything around us changes all the time. In contrast, Krishna exists beyond all these changes.

Krishna also mentions that He is the greatest of all beings. There are two types of beings: those who are conditioned (meaning they are limited and affected by the material world) and those who are liberated (who have freed themselves from those limitations). However, even the liberated souls, who have attained a higher level of existence, cannot match Krishna’s greatness and power. He is unique, and no one can compare to Him.

The verse emphasizes that Krishna is recognized both in our everyday world and in the ancient Vedic texts as the Supreme Being. This means that people everywhere honor and acknowledge Krishna's supreme qualities. By saying He is the 'Supreme Person,' it highlights that He holds a position that goes beyond everyone else, making Him the ultimate source of everything.

To summarize, this verse teaches us that while we may have different experiences and states of being, Krishna is beyond all that. He is eternal, unchanging, and unmatched in greatness. This understanding helps us to appreciate the divine nature of Krishna and recognize the special place He holds in our lives.


Other Verses of Chapter 15
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