Bhagavad Gita BG 9.16

Chapter 9, Verse 16 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाहमहमौषधम् । मन्त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यम् अहमग्निरहं हुतम् ॥

aham kratur aham yajnah svadha 'ham aham aushadham mantro 'ham aham evajyam aham agnir aham hutam

Meaning

I am the kratu (Vedic ritual), I am the yajna (sacrifice), I am the svadha (offering to ancestors), I am the aushadha (herbal offering/medicine), I am the mantra, I am the ajya (clarified butter), I am the agni (fire), I am the hutam (the act of offering).

Understanding

A cascade of identifications: Krishna is every component of the Vedic sacrificial system. Kratu (the formal Vedic rite, the solemn ceremony). Yajna (the general act of sacrifice, the sacred exchange). Svadha (the ritual offering to ancestors — the pitr-sacrifice). Aushadha (the herbal/plant offering; also medicine). Mantra (the sacred sound-formula that activates the ritual). Ajya (the clarified butter, ghee — the fuel poured into the fire). Agni (the fire itself — the intermediary, the mouth of the gods). Hutam (the act of offering, the pouring). By being all of these, Krishna declares that every element of the sacred system is himself. There is no sacred act that does not engage the Supreme.

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