Chapter 10, Verse 12
अर्जुन उवाच | परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् | पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ||१०-१२||
arjuna uvāca . paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān . puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyamādidevamajaṃ vibhum ||10-12||
Meaning
10.12 Arjuna said Thou art the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode (or the supreme light), the supreme purifier, eternal, divine Person, the primeval God, unborn andn omnipresent.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Overwhelmed by Krishna's teaching, Arjuna pours out a spontaneous hymn of recognition. He addresses Krishna no longer merely as his charioteer and friend but as paraṃ brahma — the Supreme Reality — paraṃ dhāma, the supreme abode and light, and pavitraṃ paramam, the highest purifier.
This is a turning point in Arjuna's heart. The intellectual teaching has become living realization, and realization flowers into adoration. The cascade of titles — eternal Person (śāśvataṃ puruṣam), primeval God (ādi-devam), unborn (ajam), all-pervading (vibhum) — is the language of a soul that has glimpsed the Infinite and can only respond in praise. Knowledge, when it deepens into the heart, naturally becomes worship.
💡 Key Takeaway
When understanding ripens into realization, the heart's natural response is reverent praise.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः | यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ||१०-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . bhūya eva mahābāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ . yatte.ahaṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hitakāmyayā ||10-1||
10.1 The Blessed Lord said Again, O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen to my supreme word which I will declare to thee who who art beloved, for thy welfare.
अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते | इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः ||१०-८||
ahaṃ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṃ pravartate . iti matvā bhajante māṃ budhā bhāvasamanvitāḥ ||10-8||
10.8 I am the source of all; from Me everything evolves; understanding thus, the wise, endowed with meditation, worship Me.
मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् | कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ||१०-९||
maccittā madgataprāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam . kathayantaśca māṃ nityaṃ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca ||10-9||
10.9 With their mind and their life wholly absorbed in Me, enlightening each other and ever speaking of Me, they are satisfied and delighted.