Bhagavad Gita — Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga, Shloka 43

Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga

Devanagari script

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् ।

न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥

Transliteration

pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvam asya pūjyaś ca gurur garīyān |

na tvat-samo 'sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto 'nyo loka-traye 'py apratima-prabhāva ||

Translation

ನೀನೇ ಈ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಚರಾಚರ ಲೋಕದ ತಂದೆ. ನೀನೇ ಇದರ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪೂಜ್ಯನು ಮತ್ತು ಗುರುಗಳಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಮಹಾಗುರು. ನಿನಗೆ ಸಮನಾದವನು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ; ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ಮೂರು ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ನಿನ್ನಿಗಿಂತ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು ಇನ್ನಾರು ಇರಬಲ್ಲನು, ಓ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಪ್ರಭಾವವಂತನೇ?

Gita Press Meaning

You are the Father of this entire world of the moving and the unmoving. You are its most venerable one and the supreme teacher. None is equal to You; how then could there be anyone superior to You in the three worlds, O One of incomparable might?

Critical Edition Meaning

You are the father of the world, of what moves and what does not move; you are worthy of worship and the teacher, weightier (than all). There exists none equal to you—how then another superior?—even in the three worlds, O you of unmatched power/effect.

Comparative Note

Most recensions read “लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव” (“even in the three worlds, of unmatched prabhāva”). Translational differences center on prabhāva: devotional renderings often choose “might/majesty,” while academic/literal renderings may prefer “power, efficacy, manifestation.” The verse is a doxological address by Arjuna within the theophany (viśvarūpa) context; no major doctrinal divergence is implied by common minor wording variants.

Word by Word

• पिता: father
• Root: पितृ

• असि: you are
• Root: √अस्

• लोकस्य: of the world
• Root: लोक

• चराचरस्य: of the moving and the unmoving (all beings)
• Root: चराचर

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Root: युष्मद्

• अस्य: of this (universe/this all)
• Root: इदम्

• पूज्यः: worthy of worship
• Root: पूज्य

• च: and
• Root: च

• गुरुः: teacher; venerable one
• Root: गुरु

• गरीयान्: greater; more venerable
• Root: गरीयस्

• न: not
• Root: न

• त्वत्: than you; from you
• त्वत्: Apadana
• Root: युष्मद्

• समः: equal
• Root: सम

• अस्ति: exists; is
• Root: √अस्

• अभ्यधिकः: superior; greater
• Root: अभ्यधिक

• कुतः: whence? how (could there be)?
• Root: कुतः

• अन्यः: another (one)
• Root: अन्य

• लोकत्रये: in the three worlds
• लोकत्रये: Adhikarana
• Root: लोकत्रय

• अपि: even; also
• Root: अपि

• अप्रतिमप्रभावः: one whose power/glory is without equal
• Root: अप्रतिमप्रभाव

Speakers

• Arjuna
• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Īśvara
• Viśvarūpa
• Bhakti
• Guru-tattva
• Cosmic order (ṛta/dharma)

Key Themes

• Theophany and reverence
• Divine immanence and transcendence
• Supremacy of the ultimate principle
• Teacher as metaphysical source
• Devotional recognition (stuti)

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Arjuna’s language reflects a shift from uncertainty to awe and cognitive reorientation: the mind recognizes a single, overarching source behind diverse phenomena (“moving and unmoving”), which can be read as an integration of fragmented perception into a unified meaning-framework.

Metaphysical meaning?

The verse articulates a hierarchical metaphysics in which the divine is the originating and sustaining principle (“father”), the ultimate object of veneration, and the unsurpassed teacher. It asserts incomparability (no equal or superior) across the “three worlds,” indicating maximal ontological and axiological status.

Contextual relevance?

In Chapter 11, after witnessing the viśvarūpa, Arjuna responds with hymnic praise. This verse summarizes his recognition of the revealed form as the universal ground and the highest authority, reinforcing the chapter’s theme of divine totality rather than a merely local or sectarian deity.

Modern Application?

As a non-sectarian ethical and contemplative takeaway, the verse can be used to cultivate humility and gratitude by viewing life as embedded in a larger order, and to value genuine instruction (“guru”) as guidance toward broader understanding beyond personal preference or ego-centered judgment.