O great one, why would the perfected beings not bow to you, the greatest teacher, the first maker even of Brahma? Endless Lord of radiant beings, abode of the world, you are the imperishable, the real and the unreal, and beyond both.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.37
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे महात्मन् गुरुओंके भी गुरु और ब्रह्माके भी आदिकर्ता आपके लिये वे सिद्धगण नमस्कार क्यों नहीं करें क्योंकि हे अनन्त हे देवेश हे जगन्निवास आप अक्षरस्वरूप हैं आप सत् भी हैं, असत् भी हैं, और सत्असत् से पर भी जो कुछ है, वह भी आप ही हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
कस्मात्whyचandतेto youनnotनमेरन्would bowमहात्मन्O great oneगरीयसेto the greaterब्रह्मणःthan Brahmaअपिevenआदिकर्त्रेto the first makerअनन्तendlessदेवेशLord of radiant beingsजगन्निवासabode of the worldत्वम्youअक्षरम्imperishableसत्beingअसत्non-beingतत् परम्beyond thatयत्which
Read literallywhy · and · to you · not · would bow · O great one · to the greater · than Brahma · even · to the first maker · endless · Lord of radiant beings · abode of the world · you · imperishable · being · non-being · beyond that · which
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna asks why the perfected ones would not bow to Krishna, the first maker even of Brahma.
Arjuna asks why anyone would not bow to Krishna, who is greater than even Brahma and beyond all categories of existence and nonexistence.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has seen Krishna's cosmic form and is overwhelmed. His fear turns into reverence as he names Krishna greater than Brahma, the first creator, and beyond all opposites. This verse deepens the prayer before Arjuna asks for mercy.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
At a grandparent's eightieth birthday, the whole family bends to touch their feet, and nobody asks why. Arjuna's question has that tone: of course everyone bows to the one who made even Brahma.
The takeaway
“Awe becomes natural when the mind meets something larger than every label it uses.”
Arjuna asks why anyone would not bow to Krishna, who is greater than even Brahma and beyond all categories of existence and nonexistence.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.37?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.37?
Verse 37 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.37 matter today?
At a grandparent's eightieth birthday, the whole family bends to touch their feet, and nobody asks why. Arjuna's question has that tone: of course everyone bows to the one who made even Brahma.
Arjuna asks why the perfected ones would not bow to Krishna, the first maker even of Brahma.
What this verse means
Arjuna asks why anyone would not bow to Krishna, who is greater than even Brahma and beyond all categories of existence and nonexistence.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has seen Krishna's cosmic form and is overwhelmed. His fear turns into reverence as he names Krishna greater than Brahma, the first creator, and beyond all opposites. This verse deepens the prayer before Arjuna asks for mercy.
What it looks like today
At a grandparent's eightieth birthday, the whole family bends to touch their feet, and nobody asks why. Arjuna's question has that tone: of course everyone bows to the one who made even Brahma.
“Awe becomes natural when the mind meets something larger than every label it uses.”
Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), cosmic form (25 verses), surrender (23 verses)