Shloka 18
Chapter 43: Tumult of Battle-Sounds and the Proliferation of Dvandva
Paired Engagements
यस्मात् क्षरमतीतो5हमक्षरादपि चोत्तम: । अतोड<स्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथित: पुरुषोत्तम:,क्योंकि मैं नाशवान् जडवर्ग-क्षेत्रसे तो सर्वधा अतीत हूँ और अविनाशी जीवात्मासे भी उत्तम हूँ,“ इसलिये लोकमें और वेदमें भी पुरुषोत्तम नामसे प्रसिद्ध हूँ
yasmāt kṣaram atīto ’ham akṣarād api cottamaḥ | ato ’smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ ||
Sapagkat Ako’y lumalampas sa kṣara—ang nabubulok na daigdig ng nagbabagong nilalang at bagay—at Ako’y higit pang mataas kaysa sa akṣara, ang di-nasisirang sarili ng indibidwal. Kaya sa daigdig at sa Veda, Ako’y kinikilala bilang Puruṣottama—ang Kataas-taasang Persona.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Supreme (Puruṣottama) transcends both the perishable (kṣara) domain of change and the imperishable (akṣara) individual self; hence ultimate devotion and refuge are directed to the Supreme who is acknowledged by both worldly tradition and the Veda.
In the teaching dialogue on the battlefield, the speaker is defining the highest divine identity as Puruṣottama, distinguishing it from both mutable nature and the enduring self, to clarify why this Supreme is the final object of knowledge and devotion.