Chapter 10, Verse 15
स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम | भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ||१०-१५||
svayamevātmanātmānaṃ vettha tvaṃ puruṣottama . bhūtabhāvana bhūteśa devadeva jagatpate ||10-15||
Meaning
Swami Sivananda did not comment on this sloka
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Arjuna affirms a profound truth about self-knowledge of the Divine: 'You alone know Yourself, by Yourself' (svayam evātmanātmānaṃ vettha). The Supreme can be known fully only by the Supreme; no external instrument can measure that which is the measurer of all. This is why Arjuna turns directly to Krishna to learn the truth — only the source can reveal the source.
He then crowns his appeal with a garland of sacred names: Puruṣottama (Supreme Person), Bhūta-bhāvana (origin of all beings), Bhūteśa (Lord of beings), Deva-deva (God of gods), and Jagat-pate (Lord of the universe). Each name is a doorway of reverence. By naming the Lord thus, Arjuna both worships and prepares his heart to receive the great revelation of divine glories he is about to request.
💡 Key Takeaway
The Divine is known fully only by the Divine — so the sincere seeker turns to the Source itself for truth.
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.
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः | अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ||१०-२||
na me viduḥ suragaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ . ahamādirhi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||10-2||
10.2 Neither the hosts of the gods nor the great sages know My origin; for in every way I am the source of all the gods and the great sages.
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.