The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अहम्I amआत्माthe SelfगुडाकेशO Gudakeshaसर्वभूताशयस्थितःstanding in the heart of all beingsअहम्I amआदिःthe beginningचandमध्यम्the middleचandभूतानाम्of beingsअन्तःthe endएवindeedचand
Read literallyI am · the Self · O Gudakesha · standing in the heart of all beings · I am · the beginning · and · the middle · and · of beings · the end · indeed · and
Understanding the verse
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Krishna begins his list with the Self in every heart, present at the beginning, middle and end of beings.
Krishna says he lives within every being as the inner self and is present at every stage of existence: beginning, middle, and end.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna asks to hear more of Krishna’s divine manifestations. Krishna answers that he is close at hand: he dwells in the heart of every being and is present at every stage of life, from origin to completion.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Sitting with a dying grandfather, you remember holding his hand as a child. Krishna says he is the beginning, middle and end of every being, so the same presence was there then and is here now.
The takeaway
“You are held inside something far larger than your private story.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti(43 verses), krishna(31 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.20 mean?
Krishna says he lives within every being as the inner self and is present at every stage of existence: beginning, middle, and end.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 10.20?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vibhuti Yoga" (The Yoga of Divine Glories).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 10.20?
Verse 20 sits in Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, "The Yoga of Divine Glories". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 10.20 matter today?
Sitting with a dying grandfather, you remember holding his hand as a child. Krishna says he is the beginning, middle and end of every being, so the same presence was there then and is here now.
Krishna begins his list with the Self in every heart, present at the beginning, middle and end of beings.
What this verse means
Krishna says he lives within every being as the inner self and is present at every stage of existence: beginning, middle, and end.
Context & commentary
Arjuna asks to hear more of Krishna’s divine manifestations. Krishna answers that he is close at hand: he dwells in the heart of every being and is present at every stage of life, from origin to completion.
What it looks like today
Sitting with a dying grandfather, you remember holding his hand as a child. Krishna says he is the beginning, middle and end of every being, so the same presence was there then and is here now.
“You are held inside something far larger than your private story.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti (43 verses), krishna (31 verses)