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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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Krishna’s natureChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.169.18

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.17

Krishna as shelter, friend and source

पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामह: ।

वेद्यं पवित्रम् ॐकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च ॥ १७ ॥

pitāham asya jagato

mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ

vedyaṁ pavitram oṁ-kāra

ṛk sāma yajur eva ca

Translation

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oṁ. I am also the Ṛg, the Sāma and the Yajur Vedas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

The Vedas Point to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1Kṛṣṇa is the universe’s father, mother, support and grandfather. He is the object of knowledge, the purifier, oṁ and the Vedas.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that all living beings, including our relatives, are parts of Kṛṣṇa, and all the Vedas aim toward Him.
  3. 3Study the Vedas with the aim of understanding Kṛṣṇa.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 9, The Most Confidential Knowledge: krishna as shelter, friend and source.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Recognize Kṛṣṇa as the source of all.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.17 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.16Krishna as shelter, friend and sourceBG 9.18Krishna as shelter, friend and sourceBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence

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

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Ask about BG 9.17 — 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.