Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te
Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te in English · English
Read in your language / script
✦ Meaning
Overwhelmed by the all-pervading cosmic form, Arjuna offers salutations to the Lord from every direction — front, back and all sides. He glorifies Krishna as infinite in power and immeasurable in might, declaring that since the Lord pervades everything, He is verily everything. This verse is a soaring expression of total surrender and the recognition of God's all-encompassing presence.
Origin & Story
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 40 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
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.
✦ As told in scripture
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.
The Mantra
Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited
namaḥ purastād atha pṛiṣhṭhatas te namo ’stu te sarvata eva sarva ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ sarvaṁ samāpnoṣhi tato ’si sarvaḥ
Meaning:Salutations to You from the front and from behind! Salutations to You from every side, O All! You are infinite in power and immeasurable in might; You pervade everything, and therefore You are all.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Click any word to hear its pronunciation
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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
You May Also Like
ॐ
Read the full Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts