mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñchid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
mattaḥ — than me;
para-taram — superior;
na — not;
anyat kiñchit — anything else;
asti — there is;
dhanañjaya — Arjun, conqueror of wealth;
mayi — in me;
sarvam — all;
idam — which we see;
protam — is strung;
sūtre — on a thread;
maṇi-gaṇāḥ — beads;
iva — like
In this verse, Lord Krishna is explaining to Arjuna that He is the ultimate Truth, meaning there is nothing greater or beyond Him. To make it easy to understand, think of Krishna as the central figure of everything — just like a string that holds together many pearls. Each pearl represents something in our world: people, animals, nature, thoughts, and more. They all exist because of that thread, which is Krishna's support.
Imagine a necklace where the pearls would fall apart if the thread were taken away. Similarly, everything in the universe relies on Krishna for existence. He’s saying that without Him, nothing would hold together, and thus, He is the core or support of everything we see around us.
This idea is part of a larger discussion about whether this ultimate reality — the Supreme Truth — is a person or an abstract concept. Krishna asserts that He is a personal being, which means He has characteristics like kindness, love, the ability to listen, and the power to interact with us. This is important because it allows us to relate personally to the divine.
There's a disagreement among some scholars about this. Some argue that the ultimate Truth is not personal, and they refer to ancient texts that describe a formless reality beyond everything material. However, Krishna is making clear that He is the Supreme Being who encompasses all of existence. He is everywhere — smaller than the smallest and larger than the largest. This means He is present in all things but also transcends everything we can even imagine.
Finally, to help visualize this, think of how a big tree works: its trunk is strong and steady, and from it, many branches and leaves sprout. The tree provides life and shelter, extending its influence in numerous ways. In the same way, Krishna supports all of creation. He is not just a distant force but rather deeply involved in the world. By recognizing Him as the ultimate source, one can find a deeper understanding of life and a sense of connection to everything.
In summary, this verse teaches us about Krishna being the foundation of all that exists and invites us to see Him as a personal being with whom we can connect. He is both the root and the support that allows everything else to thrive.