You are air, Yama, fire, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati, and the great ancestor. I bow to you a thousand times, and again and again.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.39
Hindi · हिन्दी
आप ही वायु, यमराज, अग्नि, वरुण, चन्द्रमा, दक्ष आदि प्रजापति और प्रपितामह ब्रह्माजीके भी पिता हैं । आपको हजारों बार नमस्कार हो नमस्कार हो और फिर भी आपको बारबार नमस्कार हो नमस्कार हो ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
वायुःairयमःYamaअग्निःfireवरुणःVarunaशशाङ्कःmoonप्रजापतिःPrajapatiत्वम्youप्रपितामहःgreat ancestorचandनमः नमः तेsalutations, salutations to youअस्तुmay it beसहस्रकृत्वःa thousand timesपुनःagainचandभूयः अपिagain and againनमः नमः तेsalutations, salutations to you
Read literallyair · Yama · fire · Varuna · moon · Prajapati · you · great ancestor · and · salutations, salutations to you · may it be · a thousand times · again · and · again and again · salutations, salutations to you
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from trying to contain reality to reverently acknowledging its vast source.
Arjuna sees Krishna as the source behind all cosmic powers and offers repeated bowing. The response is not argument but reverence.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. After seeing the vast power behind the universe, he names the forces of nature and creation as Krishna's own presence, then bows again and again in reverence.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You stand before something too large to control — a diagnosis, a confession, a loss you cannot undo. The mind stops bargaining and simply bows.
The takeaway
“Awe can dissolve pride faster than explanation can.”
It shifts the mind from trying to contain reality to reverently acknowledging its vast source.
What this verse means
Arjuna sees Krishna as the source behind all cosmic powers and offers repeated bowing. The response is not argument but reverence.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. After seeing the vast power behind the universe, he names the forces of nature and creation as Krishna's own presence, then bows again and again in reverence.
Why this verse still matters
You stand before something too large to control — a diagnosis, a confession, a loss you cannot undo. The mind stops bargaining and simply bows.
“Awe can dissolve pride faster than explanation can.”
Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), cosmic form (25 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)