Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Namah Purastad Atha Prishthatas Te — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.४० — नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
नमः पुरस्तात्
namaḥ purastāt
salutations from the front
अथ पृष्ठतः
atha pṛiṣhṭhataḥ
and from behind
ते
te
to You
नमः अस्तु ते
namo ’stu te
salutations be to You
सर्वतः एव
sarvata eva
from all sides indeed
सर्व
sarva
O All (the All in all)
अनन्तवीर्य
ananta-vīrya
of infinite power
अमितविक्रमः
amita-vikramaḥ
of immeasurable valor and might
त्वम्
tvam
You
सर्वम्
sarvam
everything; all
समाप्नोषि
samāpnoṣhi
You pervade; You encompass
ततः असि सर्वः
tato ’si sarvaḥ
therefore You are all (everything)
Complete Translation
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.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 40
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arjuna doing in Bhagavad Gita 11.40?▼
Arjuna offers salutations to Krishna from every direction — front, behind and all sides — glorifying Him as infinite in power and might. He declares that because the Lord pervades everything, He is verily everything.
Why does Arjuna salute the Lord from all directions?▼
Beholding the all-pervading cosmic form, Arjuna realizes that the Lord is present everywhere, in every direction. His salutations from all sides express the understanding that there is no place where God is not, and that He encompasses all.
What does 'tato si sarvah' (therefore You are all) mean?▼
It means that because the Lord pervades and encompasses everything, He is everything. This affirms God's all-pervading, all-inclusive nature — the entire universe exists within Him and as a manifestation of His infinite being.
How can this verse be used in devotion?▼
It is a beautiful verse for offering prostrations and salutations during worship. Reciting it helps the devotee feel the Lord's presence on every side and cultivate complete surrender and reverence toward the omnipresent, all-powerful Divine.
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