kaviṁ purāṇam anuśhāsitāram
aṇor aṇīyānsam anusmared yaḥ
sarvasya dhātāram achintya-rūpam
āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt
kavim — poet;
purāṇam — ancient;
anuśhāsitāram — the controller;
aṇoḥ — than the atom;
aṇīyānsam — smaller;
anusmaret — always remembers;
yaḥ — who;
sarvasya — of everything;
dhātāram — the support;
achintya — inconceivable;
rūpam — divine form;
āditya-varṇam — effulgent like the sun;
tamasaḥ — to the darkness of ignorance;
parastāt — beyond;
In this verse, we're invited to think about a very special being called the Supreme Person, who we often refer to as God or Krishna. Here’s what we’re being told about Him, step by step:
1. **The Knower of Everything**: This being knows everything—past, present, and future. Imagine having someone who understands everything that has ever happened and everything that will happen. This person is wise beyond measure.
2. **The Oldest Being**: He is also said to be the oldest. This means that He existed before everything else began. Think of Him as the source or origin of everything in the universe, like a root that keeps everything alive and healthy.
3. **The Controller and Maintainer**: He controls everything around us—like how a captain controls a ship. He keeps everything running smoothly. Without Him, everything would fall apart. This is like how a conductor guides an orchestra so that every musician plays their part well.
4. **Smaller than the Smallest**: Even though He controls everything, He is also described as being smaller than the tiniest things we know, like atoms. Imagine something that can fit into things that are already very, very small. This shows that He is everywhere, even in the tiniest aspects of life.
5. **Beyond Material Understanding**: The verse tells us that He is beyond all material conception. This means He is not limited by the physical world we see around us. Often, we try to understand everything through our senses, like what we can touch, see, or hear, but what is being said here is that He is so much bigger than those limits.
6. **Inconceivable**: He is called 'acintya,' which means that His true nature is beyond our understanding. Imagine trying to comprehend something that is so vast that our minds just can't wrap around it. It's like trying to fully grasp the vastness of the universe or the depth of the ocean—it's simply too big.
7. **Luminous like the Sun**: The verse also describes Him as being bright like the sun. This imagery helps us understand that He brings light, knowledge, and clarity into our lives. Just as the sun lights up the day and dispels darkness, contemplating on this Supreme Person brings wisdom and guidance.
8. **Always a Person**: Finally, even though He is described with all these mighty traits, He is still a person. This means He has a personal aspect that we can connect with, not just an abstract concept. This makes it easier for us to relate to Him as we would with a friend or a family member.
The overall message is that when we think about this Supreme Being, we can find comfort and guidance. He is great and powerful, yet He is also close to us and understanding. Instead of getting lost in debates or arguments about who or what God is, we should focus on the qualities described in scriptures like the Gita, which help us feel a connection to this Supreme Person. By doing this, we can find peace in our hearts and clarity in our minds.