Sacred verse

Bhagavad Gita 10.12BG 10.12 · Chapter 10, Verse 12

Vibhuti Yoga · Verse 12

A declaration · devotional in mood · builds on earlier teachings

Recognition turns into surrender when the highest reality stands revealed.

The verse
अर्जुन उवाचपरं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान्
पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम्

Arjuna said: You are the supreme reality, the highest refuge, the purest one, the eternal divine person, the first being, unborn, and all-pervading.

Arjuna
Bhagavad Gita · 10.12
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले परम ब्रह्म, परम धाम और महान् पवित्र आप ही हैं । आप शाश्वत, दिव्य पुरुष, आदिदेव, अजन्मा और विभु व्यापक हैं ऐसा सबकेसब ऋषि, देवर्षि नारद, असित, देवल तथा व्यास कहते हैं और स्वयं आप भी मेरे प्रति कहते हैं ॥
Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.

अर्जुन उवाचArjuna saidपरंsupremeब्रह्मsupreme realityपरंhighestधामabode/refugeपवित्रंpureपरमंhighestभवान्you areपुरुषंpersonशाश्वतंeternalदिव्यम्divineआदिदेवम्first beingअजम्unbornविभुम्all-pervading

Read literallyArjuna said · supreme · supreme reality · highest · abode/refuge · pure · highest · you are · person · eternal · divine · first being · unborn · all-pervading

Understanding the verse

It shifts the mind from seeing Krishna as a teacher to seeing him as the source behind everything.

In plain words

What this verse means

Arjuna recognises Krishna as the highest reality, the purest refuge, eternal, unborn, and present everywhere.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna has just been overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic revelation. In that stunned silence, he names Krishna as the highest reality, the pure refuge, and the eternal source of all beings.

In your life

Why this verse still matters

You stand before someone’s brutal honesty and feel your defenses collapse. In that moment, respect becomes recognition: what is larger than your fear deserves your surrender.

The takeaway

Awe can become clarity: the mind bows when it sees what is truly greater than itself.

Share this verse X WhatsApp
Krishna describing his divine glories — Vibhuti Yoga
Chapter 10 · The Yoga of Divine Glories
Vibhuti Yoga
42 verses
Read all verses in this chapter →

Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)

Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.12 mean?

Arjuna recognises Krishna as the highest reality, the purest refuge, eternal, unborn, and present everywhere.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 10.12?

Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vibhuti Yoga" (The Yoga of Divine Glories).

Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 10.12?

Verse 12 sits in Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, "The Yoga of Divine Glories". The chapter has 42 verses in total.

Why does Bhagavad Gita 10.12 matter today?

You stand before someone’s brutal honesty and feel your defenses collapse. In that moment, respect becomes recognition: what is larger than your fear deserves your surrender.

Continue the dialogue
Verses in the same spirit

Did you like this verse?