Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te — Benefits & How to Chant
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.४० — नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te
A powerful verse of all-directional salutation (pranama) to the Lord
Affirms God's all-pervading presence in every direction
Cultivates total surrender and reverence from every side of one's being
Inspires awe at the Lord's infinite power and might
Helps the devotee perceive the Divine as the All in all
Excellent for offering prostrations during worship
How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te
Instructions
Chant this verse while offering heartfelt salutations to the Lord in every direction. As you recite, feel that the Divine is present before you, behind you and on all sides, pervading everything that exists. Let the recognition that 'You are all' dissolve any sense of separation, filling the heart with reverence and surrender to the omnipresent Lord.
Spiritual Significance
The tradition holds that to salute the Lord from every direction, knowing Him to be all-pervading, fills the devotee with the awareness of God's constant presence — so that no fear of separation or distance from the Divine can remain.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 40
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
In the eleventh chapter, Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, as Arjuna beholds the boundless universal form, he is moved to offer salutations from every direction. In this verse he bows to the Lord front, back and on all sides, glorifying His infinite power and recognising that He pervades and is all that exists.