Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Verse 12 भगवद् गीता अध्याय 10 श्लोक 12 अर्जुन उवाच परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान्। पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम्।।10.12।। English Translation - Swami Gambirananda 10.12-10.13 Arjuna said You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme Light, the supreme Sanctifier. All the sages as also the divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa [Although Narada and the other sages are already mentioned by the words all the sages, still they are named separately because of their eminence. Asita is the father of Devala.] call You the eternal divine Person, the Primal God, the Birthless, the Omnipresent; and You Yourself verily tell me (so). English Translation - Swami Sivananda 10.12 Arjuna said Thou art the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode (or the supreme light), the supreme purifier, eternal, divine Person, the primeval God, unborn andn omnipresent. English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan 10.12. - 10.13. Arjuna said You are the Supreme Brahman, Supreme Abode, Supreme Purifier. All the seers and also the divine seer Narada, Asita Devala, Vyasa describe You as the Eternal Divine Soul, the unborn, all-manifesting First-God. You too say so to me. English Commentary - Swami Sivananda 10.12 परम् supreme? ब्रह्म Brahman? परम् supreme? धाम abode? पवित्रम् purifier? परमम् supreme? भवान् Thou? पुरुषम् Purusha? शाश्वतम् eternal? दिव्यम् divine? आदिदेवम् primeval God? अजम् unborn? विभुम् omnipresent.Commentary Param Brahma The highest Self. The word Param indicates the pure and attributeless Absolute? free from the limiting adjuncts. It is Satchidananda Brahman. The inferior Brahman is the Brahman with alities (Saguna) or Isvara? Brahman with the limiting adjuncts or the chosen object of meditation by the devotees.Param Dhama means Param Tejah or the supreme light. From the Creator down to the blade of grass the Supreme Being is the support or substratum. Therefore He is known as the supreme abode.Adideva The primeval God or the original God Who existed before all other gods. This God is Para Brahman Itself. It is selfluminous.Pavitram Paramam Supreme purifier. The sacred rivers and holy places of pilgrimage can remove only the sins but Para Brahman can destroy all sins and ignorance? the root cause of all sins. Therefore Para Brahman or the Supreme Self is the supreme purifier. English Translation of Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Shankaracharya's 10.12 Bhavan, You; are the param brahma, supreme Brahman, the supreme Self; the param dhama, supreme Light; the paramam pavitram, supreme Sanctifier. Sarve, all; rsayah, the sages-Vasistha and others; tatha, as also; the devarisih, divine sage; naradah, Narada; Asita and Devala ahuh, call; tvam, You; thus: Sasvatam, the eternal; divyam, divine; purusam, Person; adi-devam, the Primal God, the God who preceded all the gods; ajam, the birthless; vibhum, the Omnipresent-capable of assuming diverse forms. And even Vyasa also speaks in this very way. Ca, and; svayam, You Yourself; eva, verily; bravisi, tell; me, me (so). English Translation of Commentary - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan 10.12 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka. English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary 10.12 - 10.13 Arjuna said You are He whom the Srutis proclaim as the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Light, the Supreme Sanctifier. Thus the Srutis assert: From whom all these beings are born, by whom, when born, they live and unto whom they go when they perish - desire to know that well. This is Brahman (Tai. U., 3.1.1); He who knows Brahman attains the Highest (Ibid., 2.1.1); and He who knows the Supreme Brahman becomes the Brahman (Mun. U., 3.2.9). Likewise He is the Supreme Light. The term Dhaman connotes light. He is the Supreme Light as taught (in the Upanisads): Now, the light which shines higher than this heaven ৷৷. (Cha. U., 3.13. 7); Attaining the Supreme Light. He appears with His own form (Ibid., 8.12.2); The gods worship Him as the Light of lights (Br. U., 4.4.16). So also He is the Supreme Sanctifier: He makes the meditator bereft of all the impurities, and also destroyes them without any trace. The Srutis declares: As water clings not to the leaf of a lotus-flower, so evil deeds cling not to him who knows thus (Cha. U., 4.14.3): Just as the fibre of Isika reed (reed-cotton) laid on a fire is burnt up, so also all his sins are burnt up (Ibid., 5.24.3); and Narayana is Supreme Brahman, Narayana is Supreme Light, Narayana is Supreme Self (Ma. Na., 9.4). Sages are those who know in reality the higher truth (the Supreme Brahman), and the lower truth (individual selves); they speak of You as the eternal Divine Person, Primal Lord, the unborn and all-pervading. So also divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa declare: This Narayana, Lord of Sri, the resident of the Milk Ocean, has come to the city of Mathura abandoning his Serpent-couch. Where Madhusudana is, there is the blessed Dvaravati. He is the Lord Himself, the ancient One and Eternal Dharma (Ma. Bh. Vana. 88. 24-25). Those who know the Vedas and those who know the self declare the great-minded Krsna to be the eternal Dharma. Of all sanctifiers, Govinda is said to be the most sanctifying, the most auspicious among the auspicious. The lotus-eyed God of gods, the eternal, abides as the three worlds ৷৷. Hari who is beyond thought, abides thus. Madhusudana is there alone (Ma. Bha. Vana., 88.24-28). Similarly it is stated: O Arjuna, where the divine, the eternal Narayana the Supreme Self is, there the entire universe, the sacred water and the holy shrines are to be found. That is sacred, that is Supreme Brahman, that is sacred waters, that is the austerity grove ৷৷. there dwell the divine sages, the Siddhas and all those rich in austerities where the Primal Lord, the agent Yogin Madhusudana dwells. It is the most sacred among the sacred. For you, let there be no doubt about this (Ibid., 90.28-32); Krsna Himself is the origin and dissolution of all beings. For, this universe, consisting of sentient and non-sentient entities, was generated for the sake of Krsna (Ma. Bha. Sabha., 38.23). And you yourself say so in the passage beginning with Earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and Ahankara - this Prakrti, which is divided eightfold, is Mine (7.4) and ending with I am the origin of all; from Me proceed everything (10.8). Commentary - Chakravarthi Ji Desiring to hear in detail what was just spoken briefly by the Lord, Arjuna speaks by first praising the Lord. You are param brahma and you are the most attractive body in the form of Syamasundara (param dhama). According to Amara. Kosa, dhama means house, body, light and glory. That brahman is you. You have no difference between yourself and your body, unlike the jlva. What type of body is this? It is supremely purifying, taking away the contamination of ignorance for the person who sees it (paramam pavitram). Therefore all the rsis speak of the eternality of you in the human form (sasvatam purusam ahuh). Rudra Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary Wishing to know in more and more detail about Lord Krishnas vibhuti or phenomenal transcendental opulence which have briefly been stated previously, Arjuna praises the Supreme Lord Krishna in this verse and the next six specifying that He alone is param brahma the Supreme Ultimate Truth, the absolute Lord of all and param dhama the Supreme Ultimate Absolute Abode of all. The most holy, the most sacred, the most exalted, the pinnacle of attainment. Why is this so? Because the Vedas sing His glories and call Him resplendent, self-effulgent, eternal and everlasting. Without a beginning, omniscient, omnipotent and all pervading. The primeval Lord of all lords, the primordial God of all gods, the source of every and any and all conceivable divinity. Who claims this so? All the mahatmanas or great liberated sages such as Asita, Devala and Bhrgu as well as avatars or divine incarnations such as Narada and Vyasa. And now Lord Krishna is revealing this as well. Brahma Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary The brahman or spiritual substratum pervading all existence is entirely complete within itself. This is why the Supreme Lord is called param brahma or the Supreme Brahma because He is even more superior. Since it assumes unlimited forms it is known as omni-present. The Varuna Purana states: All pervading, the energiser, the first before all, the Supreme Lord verily expands Himself as unlimitedly and by His will He becomes the many. Shri Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary The Supreme Lord Krishna is He whom all the Vedic scriptures proclaim as param brahma the Supreme Ultimate Truth, param dhama the Supreme Ultimate Shelter and pavitram paramam the Supreme Purifier. The Taittiriya Upanisad III.I.I beginning yato va imani bhutani jayante states: Search for Him alone from whom all existence arises, upon whom all beings exist and into whom they enter and merge. He the Supreme Lord is param brahma and the Tattiriya Upanisad II.I.I beginning brahma vid apnoti param states: The knower of param brahma attains the Supreme State. The Mundaka Upanisad III.II.IX beginning sa yo ha vai tat param brahma states: Is not one who realises param brahma infused with awareness of brahman the spiritual substratum pervading all existence. The Mundaka Upanisad III.II.I beginning sa vedaitat paramam dhama states: Param dhama equals param jyotih or supernal transcendental divine light. The Chandogya Upanisad III.XIII.VII beginning atha yad atah paro divo, jyotir dipyate states: Now above all that is perceived the supernal transcendental divine light shines forth. The Chandogya Upanisad VIII:III.IV beginning param jyotir upasampadya svena rupena states: Reaching unto the supernal, transcendental, divine light one resurrects themselves into their own essential spiritual nature. Similarly paramam pavitram the Supreme Holy sanctifier, the Supreme Lord who purifies His devotees of all sins. The sins of purvagha one committed in the past as well as the sins of uttaragha which may be committed in the future. The Chandogya Upanisad IV.XIV.III beginning yatha pushkara palasa apo naslishyanta evam states: As water is not able to wet the lotus leaf, evil is not able to influence one who has realised the Supreme. The Chandogya Upanisad V.XXIV.III beginning tad yatheshika-tulam agnau states: As the tip of a reed cast into a fire is at once burnt to ashes, so indeed are the sins of one who has realised the Supreme Being become consumed. All the mahatmanas or great, liberated sages such as Narada and Vyasa who possess enlightened cognition of truths both eternal and temporary, declare that Lord Krishna is the Eternal, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Supreme Absolute Truth and Ultimate Attainment. Wherever the Supreme Lord Krishna has been present that world becomes highly blest and accrues eternal benedictions forever. Those who are knowledgeable about the meaning of the Vedic scriptures and who have realised the ultimate spiritual truths declare Lord Krishna to be the Supreme Absolute Truth. Of all purifiers He is the most pure and sanctifying. Of all the virtuous indeed He is the Supreme virtue and of things auspicious He is the origin and generator of all that is auspicious. Wherever the Supreme Lord Krishna is present or any of His incarnations and expansions authorised by Vedic scriptures then there all the universes, all the cosmos, all sacred places and all creation also abide. There should be no doubt whatsoever about this. The Supreme Lord Krishna is the sole origin and sole conclusion of all realities. Arjuna now exclaims that Lord Krishna Himself has also corroborated what the mahatmanas have proclaimed earlier in chapter seven, verse four that all the elements of material existence for all objects and all beings manifest from His seperated eightfold energies which are: earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. Also in verse eight of this chapter Lord Krishna explains that He is original generating cause of all causes. So this points are implicitly clear. Kumara Vaishnava Sampradaya - Commentary The Supreme Lord Krishna is He whom all the Vedic scriptures proclaim as param brahma the Supreme Ultimate Truth, param dhama the Supreme Ultimate Shelter and pavitram paramam the Supreme Purifier. The Taittiriya Upanisad III.I.I beginning yato va imani bhutani jayante states: Search for Him alone from whom all existence arises, upon whom all beings exist and into whom they enter and merge. He the Supreme Lord is param brahma and the Tattiriya Upanisad II.I.I beginning brahma vid apnoti param states: The knower of param brahma attains the Supreme State. The Mundaka Upanisad III.II.IX beginning sa yo ha vai tat param brahma states: Is not one who realises param brahma infused with awareness of brahman the spiritual substratum pervading all existence. The Mundaka Upanisad III.II.I beginning sa vedaitat paramam dhama states: Param dhama equals param jyotih or supernal transcendental divine light. The Chandogya Upanisad III.XIII.VII beginning atha yad atah paro divo, jyotir dipyate states: Now above all that is perceived the supernal transcendental divine light shines forth. The Chandogya Upanisad VIII:III.IV beginning param jyotir upasampadya svena rupena states: Reaching unto the supernal, transcendental, divine light one resurrects themselves into their own essential spiritual nature. Similarly paramam pavitram the Supreme Holy sanctifier, the Supreme Lord who purifies His devotees of all sins. The sins of purvagha one committed in the past as well as the sins of uttaragha which may be committed in the future. The Chandogya Upanisad IV.XIV.III beginning yatha pushkara palasa apo naslishyanta evam states: As water is not able to wet the lotus leaf, evil is not able to influence one who has realised the Supreme. The Chandogya Upanisad V.XXIV.III beginning tad yatheshika-tulam agnau states: As the tip of a reed cast into a fire is at once burnt to ashes, so indeed are the sins of one who has realised the Supreme Being become consumed. All the mahatmanas or great, liberated sages such as Narada and Vyasa who possess enlightened cognition of truths both eternal and temporary, declare that Lord Krishna is the Eternal, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Supreme Absolute Truth and Ultimate Attainment. Wherever the Supreme Lord Krishna has been present that world becomes highly blest and accrues eternal benedictions forever. Those who are knowledgeable about the meaning of the Vedic scriptures and who have realised the ultimate spiritual truths declare Lord Krishna to be the Supreme Absolute Truth. Of all purifiers He is the most pure and sanctifying. Of all the virtuous indeed He is the Supreme virtue and of things auspicious He is the origin and generator of all that is auspicious. Wherever the Supreme Lord Krishna is present or any of His incarnations and expansions authorised by Vedic scriptures then there all the universes, all the cosmos, all sacred places and all creation also abide. There should be no doubt whatsoever about this. The Supreme Lord Krishna is the sole origin and sole conclusion of all realities. Arjuna now exclaims that Lord Krishna Himself has also corroborated what the mahatmanas have proclaimed earlier in chapter seven, verse four that all the elements of material existence for all objects and all beings manifest from His seperated eightfold energies which are: earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. Also in verse eight of this chapter Lord Krishna explains that He is original generating cause of all causes. So this points are implicitly clear. Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 10.12Arjuna Uvaacha: Param brahma param dhaama pavitram paramam bhavaan; Purusham shaashvatam divyam aadidevamajam vibhum. Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 10.12arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; param—Supreme; brahma—Brahman; param—Supreme; dhāma—Abode; pavitram—purifier; paramam—Supreme; bhavān—you; puruṣham—personality; śhāśhvatam—Eternal; divyam—Divine; ādi-devam—the Primal Being; ajam—the Unborn; vibhum—the Great; āhuḥ—(they) declare; tvām—you; ṛiṣhayaḥ—sages; sarve—all; deva-ṛiṣhiḥ-nāradaḥ—devarṣhi Narad; tathā—also; asitaḥ—Asit; devalaḥ—Deval; vyāsaḥ—Vyās; svayam—personally; cha—and; eva—even; bravīṣhī—you are declaring; me—to me