Bhagavad Gita BG 10.2
Chapter 10, Verse 2 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः । अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ॥
na me viduh sura-ganah prabhavam na maharsayah aham adir hi devanam maharshinam ca sarvashah
Meaning
Neither the hosts of the gods nor the great sages know My origin (prabhava). For I am the origin (adi) of the gods and of the great sages in every way.
Understanding
A paradox that reveals the absolute nature of the Supreme: neither the sura-gana (hosts of the gods) nor the maharishis (great sages) know Me prabhavam (My origin/arising). Why? Because aham adih — I AM the origin of the gods and of the great sages sarvashah (in every way). You cannot trace the origin of the one who IS the origin. The source cannot be found by searching within what it has sourced. The gods and sages are inside what Krishna is — they cannot step outside to see the Beginning of the Beginning.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सुरगणाः | sura-ganah | hosts of the gods, all divine beings |
| प्रभवम् | prabhavam | origin, source, arising |
| महर्षयः | maharsayah | great sages, great seers |
| आदिः | adih | origin, beginning, the First |
| सर्वशः | sarvashah | in every way, completely, entirely |
| न | na | not |
| मे | me | My |
| विदुः | viduḥ | know |
| सुर-गणाः | sura-gaṇāḥ | the hosts of gods |
| न | na | nor |
| महर्षयः | maharṣayaḥ | the great sages |
| अहम् | aham | I am |
| आदिः | ādiḥ | the origin |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| देवानाम् | devānām | of the gods |
| महर्षीणाम् | maharṣīṇām | of the great sages |
| च | ca | and |
| सर्वशः | sarvaśaḥ | in every way |