कविं पुराणमनुशासितार-
मणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्य: ।
सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूप-
मादित्यवर्णं तमस: परस्तात् ॥ ९ ॥
kaviṁ purāṇam anuśhāsitāram
aṇor aṇīyānsam anusmared yaḥ
sarvasya dhātāram achintya-rūpam
āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt
श्लोक ९: मनुष्य को जो हर स्थान पर उपस्थित, प्राचीन, परमनियंता, सूक्ष्म से भी सूक्ष्म, संपूर्ण संसार के पालन-कर्ता, जिनका रूप मानव अवधारणा से परे है, जो सूर्य की तरह स्वयं प्रकाशमान हैं, और जो अज्ञान के अंधकार से परे हैं, ऐसे परमेश्वर का ध्यान करना चाहिए।
Shloka 9: One should meditate on the Supreme as the omniscient, the oldest, the ruler of all, subtler than the subtle, maintainer of all, one whose form transcends human conception, one who is self-luminous like the sun and is beyond the darkness of ignorance.
In this verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna offers a powerful meditation on His supreme, unfathomable nature. He encourages seekers to contemplate Him not as an abstract force, but as a divine person endowed with extraordinary, transcendental attributes. Each of these qualities reveals another layer of the mystery and majesty that is Krishna, creating a vivid and approachable object for meditation and devotion.
Krishna first describes Himself as “Kavi,” the Omniscient Seer. This means He possesses perfect knowledge, effortlessly understanding the past, present, and future. Unlike human intellect, which is clouded by limitation and error, Krishna’s awareness is total. He perceives the deepest secrets of every soul and event, giving assurance that nothing escapes His vision or understanding.
He is also called “Purāṇa,” the Oldest. This does not mean Krishna is old in a temporal sense; rather, He is timeless—without origin or end. Despite enlivening all creation, He Himself was never created. This wisdom is paradoxical and elevates our vision of divinity from just a person living somewhere in the sky, to the eternal source from which all existence flows.
The verse continues with “Anuśāsitāram,” the Supreme Controller. Krishna is the cosmic governor, the ultimate authority over the laws of nature and the destinies of all beings. He guides everything with impartial justice, but also with boundless mercy. This reassures devotees that the universe is not random or cruel, but carefully managed by a loving intelligence.
Krishna is described as “Aṇor aṇīyāṁ,” smaller than the smallest. This illustrates His inconceivable power to pervade every atom, to be present not only in the grandeur of the cosmos but also in its tiniest aspects. He is both immanent and transcendent, both too vast for our comprehension and yet intimately present within all living beings as the Supersoul.
“Sarvasya Dhātāram” means He is the sustainer and maintainer of all. Everything that exists, from the galactic to the microscopic, depends on Him for existence and nourishment. His support is not just material but also spiritual and emotional. He holds together the fabric of creation, providing every being with the means to live, love, and grow.
Krishna’s form is called “Acintya-Rūpam”—beyond the grasp of material thought. His form is neither limited by the material world nor subject to its imperfections. Trying to conceive of Him with our ordinary senses and logic will always fall short. He is “Āditya-Vaṛṇam,” shining with a splendor like the sun, dazzling and uplifting, a source of hope and inspiration even in the darkest circumstances.
Finally, “Tamasaḥ Parastāt” declares that Krishna is beyond the darkness of material existence. He is untouched by the qualities of the physical world—goodness, passion, and ignorance—that bind ordinary beings. In contemplating these qualities, the mind finds a luminous goal, a presence that is both approachable and ultimately beyond comprehension. Through such meditation, Krishna assures us, the path to the Supreme becomes clear and attainable.
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