Verse 10.20
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ||२०||
Transliteration (IAST)
aham ātmā guḍākeśa sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ | aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca bhūtānām anta eva ca ||20||
Word-by-Word Meanings
aham-I
ātmā-the Self
guḍākeśa-O Arjuna
sarva-bhūta-of all beings
āśaya-sthitaḥ-seated in the heart
ādiḥ-the beginning
madhyam-the middle
antaḥ-the end
Translation
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
Commentary
This foundational verse declares Krishna as the ātmā - the innermost Self of all beings. He is not merely an external deity but the very consciousness within every creature. As beginning, middle, and end, He encompasses all temporal existence. This is the master key to understanding all subsequent vibhūtis.
Themes
atmanbhaktijnana