Sanskrit
परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् । पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥ १२ ॥
paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyam ādidevam ajaṃ vibhum
Translation
Thou art the supreme Eternal, the supreme Abode, the supreme Purity, eternal divine man, primeval Deity, unborn, the Lord!
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
Arjuna speaks for the first time since the chapter opened, and the register shifts from Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna’s own confession of faith — a cascade of titles (supreme Brahman, supreme Abode, supreme Purity, primeval Deity, unborn, Lord) that essentially grants everything Krishna has claimed in verses 2-11 before Arjuna asks a single question. The request that follows in verses 16-18 is built on settled conviction, not skepticism. Arjuna’s list of titles — paraṃ brahma, paraṃ dhāma, ādi-devam — concedes the whole argument up front. What follows is not a challenge but a devotee asking to hear more.
Study deeper
Word by word
- paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāmaपरं ब्रह्म परं धाम
- the supreme Brahman, the supreme abode (param + brahma + param + dhāma)
- pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavānपवित्रं परमं भवान्
- the supreme purifier, [are] you (pavitram + paramam + bhavān)
- puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyamपुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यं
- the eternal, divine Person (puruṣam + śāśvatam + divyam)
- ādidevam ajaṃ vibhumआदिदेवं अजं विभुं
- the primal God, unborn, all-pervading (ādi-devam + ajam + vibhum)
Commentary
Site Commentary
Arjuna doesn’t ask his question and then decide whether to believe the answer — he states total conviction first, across seven verses, before making a single request. The order reverses the more familiar sequence of “prove it, then I’ll ask for more”; here the asking becomes possible only because the believing has already happened.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- Before asking someone for something significant, notice whether you already believe in them or the relationship — this verse has Arjuna state total conviction across seven verses before making a single request. Genuine asks land better built on settled trust than on "convince me first" skepticism.
Professional
- When asking a stakeholder for more investment or trust, lead with your genuine confidence in the plan rather than demanding they prove themselves to you first — this verse has the request arrive only after conviction is already fully stated. Stated belief changes the register of the ask that follows.
Family & Social
- When you need to ask a family member for something hard, state your trust in them first rather than opening with doubt — this verse has Arjuna's confession of faith come a full seven verses before his actual request. The ask lands differently once belief is already on record.
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