Purushottama Yoga · Verse 17

Bhagavad Gita 15.17

Even the imperishable witness is not the final reality.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः ।
यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
उत्तम पुरुष तो अन्य ही है, जो परमात्मा नामसे कहा गया है । वही अविनाशी ईश्वर तीनों लोकोंमें प्रविष्ट होकर सबका भरणपोषण करता है ॥
English
The Supreme Self is beyond both the perishable and the imperishable. The imperishable ruler enters the three worlds and sustains them all.

What this verse means

Beyond the changing world and even beyond the unchanging witness stands the highest reality, which enters all three worlds and sustains them.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna is being led through the structure of existence itself. Krishna has already distinguished the changing body from the imperishable witness, and now points higher still: beyond both stands the Supreme Self, the sustaining ruler of all three worlds.

Why this verse still matters

You can understand your thoughts, your habits, even your calm — and still miss the deepest source holding your life together. The mind can map the landscape and never notice the ground beneath it.

The takeaway

What seems highest is still not the highest. There is a greater presence holding everything together.

Word-by-word translation

उत्तमः (supreme) / पुरुषः (person/self) / तु (indeed) / अन्यः (other) / परमात्मा (supreme self) / इति (thus) / उदाहृतः (is called) । / यः (who) / लोकत्रयम् (the three worlds) / आविश्य (entering) / बिभर्ति (sustains) / अव्ययः (imperishable) / ईश्वरः (ruler)

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