Verse 9.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाहमहमौषधम् | मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम् ||१६||
Transliteration (IAST)
ahaṁ kratur ahaṁ yajñaḥ svadhāham aham auṣadham mantro 'ham aham evājyam aham agnir ahaṁ hutam
Word-by-Word Meanings
aham-I am
kratuḥ-Vedic ritual
yajñaḥ-sacrifice
svadhā-oblation to ancestors
auṣadham-healing herb
mantraḥ-sacred chant
agniḥ-fire
hutam-the offering
Translation
I am the Vedic ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering to ancestors, I am the healing herb, I am the sacred chant, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the act of offering.
Commentary
Krishna identifies Himself with every component of Vedic worship - the ritual, the offering, the fire, and the mantra. This reveals that all worship, regardless of its apparent object, ultimately reaches Him. The verse dissolves the distinction between sacred and secular by making all elements divine.
Themes
bhaktidharmayoga