Eko Devah Sarva-Bhuteshu Gudhah (One God Hidden in All Beings) — Word-by-Word Meaning

एको देवः सर्वभूतेषु गूढः

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

एकः देवः

ekaḥ devaḥ

The one God, the single Divine

सर्वभूतेषु गूढः

sarvabhūteṣu gūḍhaḥ

Hidden, concealed, within all beings

सर्वव्यापी

sarvavyāpī

All-pervading, present everywhere

सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा

sarvabhūtāntarātmā

The inner Self of all beings

कर्माध्यक्षः

karmādhyakṣaḥ

The overseer of all actions, presiding over all deeds

सर्वभूताधिवासः

sarvabhūtādhivāsaḥ

The dweller, the abode, in all beings

साक्षी

sākṣī

The witness (of all)

चेता

cetā

Pure consciousness, the conscious one

केवलः

kevalaḥ

Absolute, alone, unconditioned

निर्गुणः च

nirguṇaḥ ca

And without qualities (free of the gunas of nature)

Complete Translation

The one God hidden in all beings, all-pervading, the inner Self of all; the overseer of all actions, dwelling in all beings, the Witness, pure Consciousness, the Absolute and free of all qualities.

Origin & History

Source: Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Verse 6.11

Author: Traditional (Upanishadic); attributed to the sage Shvetashvatara

Period: Vedic / Upanishadic

The Shvetashvatara Upanishad ascends, in its later chapters, to a sublime vision of the one supreme Lord who is both the cause of the universe and the indwelling Self of all. Having taught that this Lord has no master above Him and is the source of all powers, the seer here declares the same one God to be hidden within every being as its inner Self and witness, all-pervading yet absolute and beyond the qualities of nature. The verse thus gathers immanence and transcendence into a single contemplation of the one Divine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Eko Devah Sarva-Bhuteshu Gudhah mean?▼

It means 'the one God hidden in all beings'. The verse declares that a single Divine dwells concealed within every creature as its inner Self, all-pervading, the witness of all actions, pure consciousness, absolute and free of all qualities.

Where does this verse come from?▼

It is from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.11), part of the Krishna Yajur Veda. This Upanishad is renowned for combining the philosophy of the one Brahman with deep devotion to the supreme Lord.

How can God be both 'in all beings' and 'beyond qualities'?▼

The verse holds both truths together: as the inner Self, the Divine indwells and pervades all beings (immanence); as the absolute Witness and pure Consciousness, It remains untouched, alone and without qualities (transcendence). The one Reality is at once within all and beyond all.

What is the practical teaching of this verse?▼

Its practical fruit is to see the same God in everyone, which naturally awakens love, equality and compassion, and to abide within as the witnessing Self. Knowing the one Divine hidden in all dissolves division and grounds the seeker in peace and unity.

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