Bhagavad Gita BG 11.44
Chapter 11, Verse 44 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् । पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥
tasmat pranamya pranidhaya kayam prasadaye tvam aham isham idyam piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuh priyah priyayarhasi deva sodhum
Meaning
Therefore, bowing, prostrating my body, I seek Your grace, O Adorable Lord. As a father bears with a son, a friend with a friend, a lover with a beloved — so please bear with me, O God.
Understanding
Tasmat (therefore — from all the preceding recognition of greatness). Pranamya pranidhaya kayam (bowing, laying down the body fully — pranidhaya: placing down completely, full prostration). Prasadaye tvam aham (I seek your grace/prasada — prasada: gracious favor, the gift of the gracious). Isham idyam (O Lord who is worthy of worship). Then the three beautiful similes: Piteva putrasya (as a father bears with/toward a son — pity, indulgence). Sakheva sakhyuh (as a friend with a friend — equality, warmth, forgiveness). Priyah priyayah (as a lover/dear one with a beloved — the most intimate, the most tender). The three levels of relationship: hierarchical love (father-son), equal love (friend-friend), intimate love (lover-beloved). Arjuna invokes all three to ask for forgiveness.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रणिधाय | pranidhaya | prostrating fully, laying down completely |
| प्रसादये | prasadaye | I seek grace/prasada (gracious favor) |
| ईड्यम् | idyam | worthy of praise, worthy of worship |
| सोढुम् | sodhum | to bear with, to endure, to forgive (from sah — to tolerate) |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| प्रणम्य | praṇamya | bowing down |
| प्रणिधाय | praṇidhāya | prostrating |
| कायम् | kāyam | the body |
| प्रसादये | prasādaye | I beg mercy, I request |
| त्वाम् | tvām | You |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| ईशम् | īśam | the Lord |
| इड्यम् | iḍyam | the praiseworthy |
| पिता | pitā | as a father |
| इव | iva | like |
| पुत्रस्य | putrasya | of a son |
| सखा | sakhā | a friend |
| इव | iva | like |
| सख्युः | sakhyuḥ | of a friend |
| प्रियः | priyaḥ | a dear one |
| प्रियायाः | priyāyāḥ | of a beloved |
| अर्हसि | arhasi | You should, please |
| देव | deva | O Lord |
| सोढुम् | soḍhum | to tolerate, to bear |