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← Chapter 14: The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

Verse 14.27

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च | शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ||२७||

Transliteration (IAST)

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham amṛtasyāvyayasya ca | śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca ||27||

Word-by-Word Meanings

brahmaṇaḥ-of Brahman
pratiṣṭhā-the foundation/abode
aham-I am
amṛtasya-of the immortal
avyayasya-of the imperishable
śāśvatasya-of the eternal
dharmasya-of dharma/righteousness
sukhasya aikāntikasya-of absolute bliss

Translation

For I am the abode of Brahman, the immortal and imperishable, of eternal dharma, and of absolute bliss.

Commentary

Shankaracharya interprets this verse in two ways: either Krishna as the personal God is the foundation of the impersonal Brahman, or the individual self (aham) is identical with Brahman. Ramanuja strongly argues that this verse establishes the supremacy of the personal Lord - Brahman, immortality, dharma, and bliss all rest in Him. Madhva concurs, stating that the Lord is the ultimate support (pratiṣṭhā) of all reality, and this verse seals the teaching that devotion to the personal God is the highest path.

Themes

bhaktimokshadharmaatman