Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 11 · The Universal Form · 55 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Bhakti & surrenderChapter 11 · The Universal Form
11.1711.19

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.18

Arjuna prays in astonishment and reverence

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं

त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।

त्वमव्यय: शाश्वतधर्मगोप्‍ता

सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥ १८ ॥

tvam akṣaraṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ

tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam

tvam avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā

sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣo mato me

Translation

You are the supreme primal objective. You are the ultimate resting place of all this universe. You are inexhaustible, and You are the oldest. You are the maintainer of the eternal religion, the Personality of Godhead. This is my opinion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

The Supreme Original Goal

  1. 1You are the supreme, original goal and the ultimate resting place of the whole universe.
  2. 2You are inexhaustible—you never run out or diminish—and You are the oldest.
  3. 3You maintain eternal religion and are the Personality of Godhead. This is the speaker’s opinion.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 11, The Universal Form: arjuna prays in astonishment and reverence.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 11.18 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 11.14Arjuna prays in astonishment and reverenceBG 11.15Arjuna prays in astonishment and reverenceBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 11.18 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.