Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 37

English Translation

And why should they not bow down to You, O exalted [i.e. not narrow-minded.] One, who are greater (than all) and who are the first Creator even of Brahma! O infinite One, supreme God, Abode of the Universe, You are the Immutable,being and non-being, (and) that which is Transcendental.

Detailed Commentary

**Explanation** **"Kasmācca te na nameran mahātman garīyase Brahmaṇo’pyādikartre"** -- Why should they not bow to You, O Mahātman, who are greater than Brahmā and the Primal Creator? Those who have beheld Your magnificent form, why would they not bow to You? Prostrations are offered to two kinds of beings: (1) those from whom we receive education and enlightenment, such as Gurus, and (2) those from whom we are born, like parents, and those who are superior to us in age and knowledge. Arjuna says that You are even the Guru of Gurus – 'garīyase' – and You are the originator even of Brahmā, the creator of the universe – 'Brahmaṇo'pyādikartre'. Therefore, it is fitting for great souls (Mahāpuruṣas) to bow to You. **"Ananta"** -- From the perspective of space, time, object, or individual, You have no end. Viewed from any perspective, Your end is not perceived. From the perspective of space, it is not seen where You begin or where You will end. From the perspective of time, there is no end to when You began or when You will remain. From the perspective of objects, individuals, etc., there is no beginning or end to how many forms You assume. You are Ananta (the Endless One) in all respects. Intellect and any perspective attempt to perceive You, but they exhaust themselves; Your end is never reached. Therefore, You are boundless and immeasurable. **"Devesha"** -- There are many Devas (gods) like Indra, Varuṇa, etc., described in the scriptures. You are the master, the controller, of all those Devas. Therefore, You are 'Devesha' (Lord of Devas). **"Jagannivāsa"** -- Numerous creations extensively reside within some part of You, yet that part of Yours remains empty. Thus, You are the boundless Jagannivāsa (Abode of the Universe). **"Tvam akṣaraṁ sad-asat tat-paraṁ yat"** -- You are of the Akṣara (imperishable) nature. That which has self-existent reality, 'Sat', is also You; and that which does not have independent reality, whose existence appears dependent on Sat, that 'Asat' is also You. That which is distinct from both Sat and Asat, that which is beyond any conception, that too is You. The implication is that there is nothing greater than You, nor can there be. In such a case, offering obeisance to You is indeed fitting.