Bhagavad Gita 11.40नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व।अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥
namaḥ purastād atha pṛiṣhṭhatas te namo ’stu te sarvata eva sarva
ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ sarvaṁ samāpnoṣhi tato ’si sarvaḥ
Sanskrit recitation
After awe — devotion · 11.35–11.55 · Teaching
Translation
Salutations to You in front and behind! Salutations to You on every side! O All! You, infinite in power and prowess, pervade all; therefore You are all.
Hindi translation
हे सर्व ! आपको आगेसे भी नमस्कार हो ! पीछेसे भी नमस्कार हो ! सब ओरसे ही नमस्कार हो ! हे अनन्तवीर्य ! अमित विक्रमवाले आपने सबको समावृत कर रखा है; अतः सब कुछ आप ही हैं।
Meaning
The words I prostrate myself before Thee, behind Thee and on every side indicate the allpervading nature of the Lord. How can the allpervading Self have front and back Finite objects only have front and back sides Arjuna imagined that there were front and back sides to the Lord and so prostrated himself in his extreme faith and devotion.O All Nothing exists without Thee. As the Self is allpervading, He is called the All. There is nothing except the Self.On every side, as Thou art present everywhere or in all quarters.One may be powerful but may not possess the courage to kill the enemies or he may be endowed with a mild form of courge but the Lord is infinite in courage and infinite in power.Pervadest by Thy One Self.
After Swami Sivananda
After awe — devotion· 11.35–11.55→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 11.35Sanjaya said, Having heard that speech of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with joined palms,…
- 11.36Arjuna said, "It is fitting, O Krishna, that the world delights and rejoices in Your…
- 11.37And why should they not, O great Soul, bow to Thee Who art greater than all else, the…
- 11.38You are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the…
- 11.39You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the Creator, and the great-grandfather. I…
11.40Salutations to You in front and behind! Salutations to You on every side! O All! You,…
- 11.41Whatever I have presumptuously said from carelessness or love, addressing You as O…
- 11.42In whatever way I may have insulted You for the sake of fun, while at play, reposing,…
- 11.43Thou art the Father of this world, both moving and unmoving. Thou art to be adored by this…
- 11.44Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I crave Thy forgiveness, O adorable Lord.…
- 11.45I am delighted, having seen something never seen before; yet my mind is distressed with…
- 11.46I desire to see You as before, crowned, bearing a mace, with the discus in hand, in Your…
- 11.47The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this Cosmic Form has graciously been shown to you by Me…
- 11.48Neither by the study of the Vedas, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices, nor by severe…
- 11.49Do not be afraid, nor be bewildered on seeing such a terrible form of Mine; with your fear…
- 11.50Sanjaya said, Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Krishna again showed His own form. The great…
- 11.51Arjuna said, "Having seen this Thy gentle human form, O Krishna, now I am composed and…
- 11.52The Blessed Lord said, "It is very hard indeed to see this form of Mine which thou hast…
- 11.53Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by gift, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in…
- 11.54But by single-minded devotion, I can be known, seen, and entered into in reality, O…
- 11.55He who does all actions for Me, who regards Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who…
Word-by-word→
- te
- to you
- asi
- (you) are
- eva
- indeed
- atha
- and
- tvam
- you
- sarva
- all
- sarvam
- everything
- namaḥ
- offering salutations
- tataḥ
- thus
- sarvaḥ
- everything
- purastāt
- from the front
- sarvataḥ
- from all sides
- namaḥ astu
- I offer my salutations
- ananta-vīrya
- infinite power
- samāpnoṣhi
- pervade
- amita-vikramaḥ
- infinite valor and might
- pṛiṣhṭhataḥ
- the rear
Related verses
- 11.10With numerous mouths and eyes, with numerous wondrous sights, with numerous divine…
- 12.20They who follow this immortal Dharma, endowed with faith and regarding Me as their supreme…
- 9.32For, taking refuge in Me, they who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth—women, Vaisyas, and…
- 18.56Having taken refuge in Me and doing all actions, by My grace he obtains the eternal,…