Verse 15
स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम | भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते || १५ ||
Transliteration
svayam evātmanātmānaṁ vettha tvaṁ puruṣottama bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa deva-deva jagat-pate
Synonyms
svayam—personally; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by Yourself; ātmānam—Yourself; vettha—You know; tvam—You; puruṣa-uttama—O greatest of all persons; bhūta-bhāvana—O source of everything; bhūteśa—O Lord of everything; deva-deva—O God of gods; jagat-pate—O Lord of the entire universe.
Translation
“Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Yourself, O Supreme Person, O source of all beings, O Lord of all, O God of gods, O Lord of the universe!”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Arjuna here articulates the deepest truth of the Upanishads: the Absolute knows itself only by itself, not through any external instrument. No yoga, no scripture, no teacher can do more than remove the obstacles to this self-recognition. The final knowing is always the Self knowing itself — svayam evātmanātmānam.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
This verse points to the ultimate nature of self-knowledge: it is not object-knowledge but the Self's recognition of itself. All spiritual practices are meant to quieten the mental noise that obscures this self-luminous reality. When the mind becomes truly still, what remains is not emptiness but the Self knowing itself in clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.15 mean?
Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Yourself, O Supreme Person, O source of all beings, O Lord of all, O God of gods, O Lord of the universe!
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 10.15?
svayam—personally; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by Yourself; ātmānam—Yourself; vettha—You know; tvam—You; puruṣa-uttama—O greatest of all persons; bhūta-bhāvana—O source of everything; bhūteśa—O Lord of everything; deva-deva—O God of gods; jagat-pate—O Lord of the entire universe.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 10.15 in daily life?
This verse points to the ultimate nature of self-knowledge: it is not object-knowledge but the Self's recognition of itself. All spiritual practices are meant to quieten the mental noise that obscures this self-luminous reality. When the mind becomes truly still, what remains is not emptiness but the Self knowing itself in clarity.