Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 27

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च ।
शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāhamamṛtasyāvyayasya ca .
śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca ॥

Meaning

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

Word meanings

ब्रह्मणः – of Brahman
हि – for
प्रतिष्ठा – foundation, abode
अहम् – I
अमृतस्य – of the immortal
अव्ययस्य – of the imperishable
च – and
शाश्वतस्य – of the eternal
च – and
धर्मस्य – of dharma
सुखस्य – of bliss
ऐकान्तिकस्य – absolute, unbroken
च – and

Anvaya (word order)

हि अहम् अमृतस्य अव्ययस्य च ब्रह्मणः, शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य, ऐकान्तिकस्य सुखस्य च प्रतिष्ठा (अस्मि) ।

Explanation

The previous verse said that one who serves the Lord with undivided devotion becomes fit for the state of Brahman. Why should devotion to the Lord lead to Brahman? In this final verse Krishna gives the reason: brahmano hi pratishtha aham, 'for I am the foundation of Brahman'.

Krishna declares Himself the foundation of several things. First, of Brahman, immortal and imperishable, the goal of the liberated. Second, of eternal dharma, the timeless law and path by which that goal is reached. Third, of aikantika sukha, absolute bliss, joy that is never broken and holds not a trace of sorrow. Thus the goal, the way and the joy of the goal all have their source in the Lord.

The acharyas read the verse from their own standpoints. For Shankara, 'I' here refers to the innermost Self, the attributeless Brahman, which is the ground even of Brahman as conditioned by attributes, just as the sun's orb is the ground of its light. Ramanuja takes it as a clear statement of the supremacy of the personal Lord: even the liberated soul who has attained the state of Brahman rests upon Him. Madhva likewise sees Lord Vishnu as the support of all. Despite their differences, all agree that the highest truth is not separate from the Lord.

With this verse Chapter 14 closes. It began with the process of creation, went on to the bondage of the gunas with their signs and fruits, then described the one who transcends them, and ended with the path of devotion by which one comes to rest in the Lord. The chapter thus traces the whole journey from bondage in nature to refuge in God.

Context

The previous verse said that undivided devotion makes one fit for the state of Brahman; this verse gives the reason and concludes Chapter 14. In Chapter 15 Krishna describes the tree of worldly existence and the Supreme Person, deepening this same theme.

Life lesson

The immortality, righteousness and unbroken joy we seek all have their source in God. Only when we are connected to Him does life gain a lasting foundation; every other support shifts and breaks.

Key terms

Pratishtha: Foundation, support, abode
Shashvata dharma: Eternal dharma, the timeless path to liberation
Aikantika sukha: Absolute, unbroken and supreme bliss