10.33 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 10, Verse 33

In Bhagavad Gita 10.33, Krishna divulges to Arjuna a selection of His most subtle and pervasive manifestations in language, time, and creativity. Continuing the theme of vibhūti-yoga, where Krishna identifies His divinity within the most distinguished and essential facets of existence, He now draws attention to those aspects that form the invisible foundations of reality itself.

Among the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, Krishna declares Himself the letter "A" (akāra). This is highly significant — "A" is not only the first letter but also represents the origin of all sound. In Sanskrit, "A" is considered the root from which all other letters and words flow. Just as the letter "A" is woven into countless words, Krishna’s essence pervades every aspect of existence, manifest and unmanifest. It is the elemental sound, the subtle hum that underpins all spoken creation, indicating Krishna’s presence as the primal cause and sustaining power behind all expression and communication.

He then identifies Himself with the dvandva or dual compound in Sanskrit grammar. This form of compound treats both words as equal and unmerged, unlike other compounds where one word is subordinate to another. The classic example is “Rama-Krishna,” where both entities are given equal importance. By highlighting this, Krishna reveals His nature as perfect balance, impartiality, and completeness — suggesting that just as dvandva brings together dualities without diminishing either side, so too Krishna harmonizes all dualities in existence without loss of individuality or value.

Krishna next states that among all things that bring about change or end, He is inexhaustible, endless time (akṣaya kāla). Time, in the Gita’s view, is an all-consuming force; it is universal, impartial, and spares nothing. All beings, regardless of strength or achievement, are eventually touched by time’s flow. Yet, Krishna is not simply time as annihilator — He is “akṣaya,” the inexhaustible and eternal aspect of time. Whereas everything material is finite, time itself does not diminish; it transcends cycles and persists beyond creation and destruction. In this way, Krishna’s identity as timelessness underscores His eternal sovereignty and the unbroken continuity behind all cosmic transition.

Among all creators, Krishna names Himself as Brahmā, the architect of the material universe. Brahmā is revered in Vedic tradition as the creator-god who shapes the cosmos, but he does so through the energy bestowed by Krishna. By stating “I am Brahmā,” Krishna reaffirms that even the most powerful creative forces are but reflections of His divine potency. The capacity to bring forth worlds — to design, innovate, and manifest — finds its true origin and ultimate purpose in Krishna’s conscious will.

These declarations serve as a lens to see Krishna not only in grand, cosmic phenomena but also in the ordinary, foundational structures of our lives — from the syllables in speech to the passage of time, from the grammar of language to the generative drive behind all creation. Krishna’s presence permeates the subtle and the gross, the abstract and the concrete. This offers the seeker a path to connect everyday experiences, however mundane, to the divine source, cultivating a living awareness that the sacred is always near at hand.

By aligning Himself with such elemental realities, Krishna invites Arjuna — and every listener — to recognize the divine in what is most basic and omnipresent. The act of speaking, the flow of time, the structure behind words, and the process of creativity become gateways to the infinite. The boundary between the ordinary and the spiritual fades, as all reality is seen to rest upon and reveal Krishna’s undivided presence.

Thus, this verse encapsulates not only a catalog of Krishna’s cosmic glories but an intimate reminder: the divine is both the origin and the substance of all things, found profoundly in the simplicity of "A," the balance of dualities, the march of time, and the creative urge. To see with such vision is to glimpse the infinite in the everyday and to understand that behind all names, forms, and changes, the eternal Krishna dwells.