पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः। वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च।।9.17।।
pitā aham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ vedyam pavitram oṁkāra ṛk sāma yajuḥ eva ca
Translation
I am the father, the mother, the sustainer and the paternal‑grandfather of this world; I am the object of knowledge, the purifying syllable Om, the Ṛg Veda, the Sāma Veda and the Yajur Veda.
Word Meanings
pitā — father; aham — I; asya — of this; jagataḥ — universe; mātā — mother; dhātā — supporter; pitāmahaḥ — grandfather; vedyam — what is to be known; pavitram — that which purifies; oṁkāra — the syllable Om; ṛk — the Ṛg Veda; sāma — the Sāma Veda; yajuḥ — the Yajur Veda; eva — certainly; ca — and.
Understanding the Verse
Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled Rajavidyā Rājaguhya‑yogam (the King of Sciences and the King of Secrets), reveals the supreme, all‑encompassing nature of the Divine. Verse 17 is a concise yet profound proclamation by Krishna, asserting that He is not only the cosmic creator but also the very essence of the Vedic knowledge and the sacred sound that underlies all existence. By declaring Himself as "pitā", "mātā", "dhātā" and "pitāmahaḥ", Krishna places Himself beyond conventional familial relations, presenting a metaphor where He is the source, sustainer, and ultimate ancestor of every living being. This imagery helps devotees comprehend how the Divine pervades every level of reality, from the most material to the most subtle.
The verse further identifies the Divine with "vedyam" – the object of knowledge. In the Vedic tradition, "ved" means knowledge, and "vedyam" denotes that which is worthy of knowing. Krishna thus declares Himself as the ultimate truth that seekers must realize. This aligns with the Gita’s central teaching that knowing the Divine is the highest goal of human life, transcending worldly achievements and even ritualistic practices.
The inclusion of "pavitram" (the purifying) and "oṁkāra" (the syllable Om) emphasizes the sanctifying power of the Divine. Om is regarded as the primordial sound from which the universe emanates; by identifying Himself with Om, Krishna signifies that He is the underlying vibration that sustains creation. The purifying aspect indicates that contemplation of the Divine eliminates ignorance and karmic impurities, leading the aspirant toward liberation (mokṣa).
By naming the three principal Vedas – the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur – Krishna affirms that He is the living source of all revealed knowledge. The Ṛg Veda contains hymns of praise, the Sāma Veda is the melodic expression of those hymns, and the Yajur Veda provides the procedural framework for sacrifice. Declaring Himself as "yajur eva ca" (and also the Yajur) illustrates that the Divine is both the content and the method of worship, bridging contemplation and action. This holistic view dissolves any perceived separation between devotion (bhakti) and knowledge (jnana).
In practical terms, Verse 9.17 encourages the seeker to see the Divine in every aspect of spiritual life: in familial love, in the study of scriptures, in the chanting of Om, and in the performance of rites. Recognizing this unity fosters humility, devotion, and an integrated approach to spiritual practice. When a devotee internalizes that the same Supreme Being is the father, mother, sustainer, knowledge, sound and Veda, the sense of alienation disappears, and the path to self‑realization becomes clear and effortless.
