Bhagavad Gita BG 15.17
Chapter 15, Verse 17 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः । यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः ॥
uttamah purushas tv anyah paramatmety udahrtah yo loka-trayam avishya bibharty avyaya ishvarah
Meaning
But beyond these two is the Supreme Person (Uttama Purusha) — called the Paramatman — who, pervading the three worlds, sustains them. He is the imperishable Ishvara.
Understanding
The Purushottama: uttamah purushash tv anyah (a third, other than the two — the Uttama/Supreme Person). Paramatmeti udahrtah (called the Paramatman). Yo loka-trayam avishya (who, pervading all three worlds) bibharti (sustains/bears them). Avyaya Ishvara (the imperishable Lord). The Purushottama transcends both Kshara and Akshara: it is not the mutable world nor the unchanging ground — it is the Supreme Person who pervades and sustains both. The Paramam Dhama from Ch8 revisited in a new framework.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उत्तमः | uttamah | the Supreme, the Highest, the best (superlative) |
| परमात्मा | paramatma | the Supreme Atman, the Highest Self |
| लोकत्रयम् | loka-trayam | the three worlds (earth, atmosphere, heaven) |
| आविश्य | avishya | having pervaded, entering into, permeating |
| बिभर्ति | bibharti | sustains, bears, maintains |
| ईश्वरः | ishvarah | Lord, the supreme controller |
| उत्तमः | uttamaḥ | the highest |
| पुरुषः | puruṣaḥ tu | but the Person |
| अन्यः | anyaḥ | another |
| परमात्मा | paramātmā | the Supreme Self |
| इति | iti udāhṛtaḥ | is thus declared |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| आविश्य | āviśya | having entered |
| अव्ययः | avyayaḥ | imperishable |
| ईश्वरः | īśvaraḥ | the Lord |
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