THE HOLY GITA, CHAPTER 11, VERSE 18, VISVARUPA DARSANA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF THE VISION OF THE COSMIC FORM

THE HOLY GITA

CHAPTER NUMBER 11

VISVARUPA DARSANA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF THE VISION OF THE COSMIC FORM:

VERSE NUMBER 18

Text in Transliteration:

Tvam aksharam paramam veditavyam

   Tvam asya visvasya param nidhaanam

Tvam avyayah saasvata dharma goptaa

   Sanaatanas tvam purusho  mato me

Sanskrit words and phrases and their meaning:

Tvam = thou; aksharam = imperishable; paramam = the supreme being; veditavyam = worthy to be known; tvam = thou; asya = (of) this; visvasya = of universe; param = the great; nidhaanam = treasure-house; tvam = thou; avyayah = imperishable; tvam = thou; avyayah = imperishable; saasvata dharma goptaa = protector of the Eternal Dharma; sanaatanah: = ancient; tvam = thou; purushah: = Purusha; matah: = thought; me = by me.

Text in English:

You are the Imperishable, the Supreme Being to be realized. You are the great treasure-house of this universe; You are the imperishable Guardian of the Eternal Dharma. You are the ancient Purusha, I deem.

COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

He who realizes Iswara becomes worthy of attaining Him. The realization of that Supreme Being is therefore the goal of the sadhaka. The Lord is the treasure-house of this universe even as aakaasa ( the sky) is the treasure-house of the moving clouds. When the universe perishes periodically, He remains imperishable. In His sublime proximity the Eternal Dharma or the functioning of the universe takes place regularly. Arjuna is now convinced of these verities.

COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:

aksharam: imperishable. Arjuna states that the Supreme is both Brahman, and Isvara, Absolute and God.

saasvatadharmagoptaa: the undying guardian of the eternal law. Abhinavagupta reads saattvatadhrmagoptaa, the guardian of the saattvata dharma.

COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI SIVANANDA:

Visvasya-Nidhanam: Treasure-house of this universe, also means ‘abode’ or ‘refuge’ or the substratum of this universe. It is because of this that all the beings in the universe are preserved and protected. He is the inexhaustible source to whom the devotee turns at all times. Deluded indeed are they that ignore this divine treasure-house and run after the shadow of the objects of the senses which do not contain even an iota of pleasure.

Veditavyam: To be known by the aspirants or seekers of liberation, through Sravana (hearing of the scriptures), Manana (reflection) and Nididhyasana ( meditation).

Avyayah means inexhaustible, unchanging, undying.