पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः ।
वेद्यं पवित्रम् ॐकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च ॥17॥
pitāham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ
vedyaṁ pavitram oṁkāra ṛik sāma yajur eva cha
श्लोक १७: मैं इस ब्रह्माण्ड का पिता, माता, पालनकर्ता और पितामह हूँ। मैं ज्ञान का परम उद्देश्य हूँ, शुद्ध सार हूँ, पवित्र शब्द › हूँ, और मैं ऋग्वेद, यजुर्वेद और सामवेद भी हूँ।
Shloka 17: I am the father, mother, sustainer and grandfather of this universe. I am the ultimate object of knowledge, the pure essence, the sacred syllable OM and I am also the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda.
In verse 9.17 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna continues His revelation of the divine omnipresence by declaring, "I am the father, mother, support and grandfather of this universe. I am the knowable, the purifier, the syllable Om, and the Rig, Sama and Yajur also." This powerful statement establishes Krishna's fundamental relationship with all creation, positioning Him not just as a distant creator but as an intimate nurturer and sustainer of the cosmic existence.
The verse begins with Krishna identifying Himself as both father and mother to the universe ("pitāham asya jagato mātā"), emphasizing His role in creation from multiple perspectives. This dual parental metaphor illustrates how the Divine encompasses both masculine and feminine principles - the father representing the originating seed of creation, while the mother symbolizes the nurturing aspect that allows creation to flourish. As "dhātā" (supporter or sustainer), Krishna maintains all that exists, and as "pitāmahaḥ" (grandfather), He indicates His position as the source of even the creator Brahma.
The word "dhātā" specifically carries the meaning of "creator" in this context. This reveals a profound understanding that not only are our immediate relations like parents part of Krishna's divine energy, but the entire lineage extending to grandparents and beyond is also connected to Him. This establishes Krishna as the ultimate source of all relationships and familial bonds.
Krishna then describes Himself as "vedyam" (that which is to be known), indicating that He is the ultimate object of all knowledge. As "pavitram" (the purifier), He has the power to cleanse and sanctify. The mention of "omkara" (the sacred syllable Om) establishes His presence in the primordial sound that represents the absolute truth in its most concentrated form.
The verse concludes with Krishna identifying Himself with the three principal Vedas - Rig, Sama, and Yajur. This is significant because the Vedas represent the repository of sacred knowledge, and by claiming to be the Vedas themselves, Krishna is establishing that He is not separate from the sacred knowledge but is its very essence. He is both the knowledge and the knower, the scripture and its meaning.
This verse invites practitioners of Vishwa Rupa Upasana (worship of the universal form) to recognize the divine presence in all aspects of existence. It teaches that our relationships with mortal beings are temporary and limited to the duration of physical existence, while our relationship with Krishna is eternal and transcendental.
Through this verse, Krishna systematically dismantles the artificial boundaries we create between the sacred and the mundane. He reveals that every aspect of life—from our most intimate relationships to our pursuit of knowledge and spiritual practices—is ultimately connected to and manifesting the Absolute Truth. This comprehensive understanding helps devotees see beyond the superficial diversity of the material world to recognize the underlying unity of all existence, with Krishna as its foundation and essence.
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