Bhagavad Gita 14.27
Spoken by Krishna ★ Essential verse · Verse 27 of 27
ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहम् अमृतस्याव्ययस्य च । शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥
brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham amṛtasyāvyayasya ca | śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca ||
Krishna declares: 'I am the ground of Brahman — the Immortal, the Immutable, eternal Dharma, and perfect Bliss.'
Word by word (3)
- brahmaṇaḥ hi pratiṣṭhā aham
- — I (aham) am verily (hi = truly, emphatically) the ground/foundation/abode (pratiṣṭhā) of Brahman — the ultimate grounding of the Absolute in the Personal Divine
- amṛtasya avyayasya ca
- — of the Immortal (amṛta = deathless, the nectar of immortality) and the Imperishable/Immutable (avyaya = without decay or change)
- śāśvatasya dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca
- — of eternal Dharma (śāśvata dharma = the unchanging cosmic law) and of one-pointed/absolute Bliss (aikāntika sukha = unalloyed happiness pointing to one goal alone)
For I am the foundation (pratiṣṭhā) of Brahman — of the Immortal, the Immutable, eternal Dharma, and absolute Bliss.
A modern analogy
If Brahman is the vast ocean, Krishna is the ocean's own heart — the ground where it rests. The chapter's entire philosophy flows from this verse: the guṇas bind the embodied in Prakṛti; bhakti to Krishna transcends Prakṛti; because Krishna is the foundation of Brahman itself, reaching Krishna means reaching the Absolute.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
For I am the abode of Brahman, the Immortal and the Immutable, the Eternal Dharma, and the unfailing Bliss. [1]
For I am the abode of Brahman, the Immortal and Immutable, of everlasting Dharma and of Absolute Bliss. [4]
For I am the source of the Brahman, of the immortal and the imperishable, of the eternal law, and of absolute happiness. [9]
I am the foundation of Brahman, the immortal, the immutable, the eternal, of the divine law, and of absolute bliss. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
You are the Imperishable, the Supreme — Refuge of all, undying Guardian of Eternal Dharma, Ancient Puruṣa.
From whom all beings arise, by whom all is pervaded — worshiping THAT through one's own duty, one attains perfection.
Even doing all actions always, with refuge in Me — by My grace one attains the eternal imperishable abode.
Whoever studies this sacred dialogue — by him I shall have been worshipped by jñāna-yajña; such is My conviction.
Quickly he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace — declare it, O Kuntī's son: My devotee is never destroyed.
Which devotees are best in yoga — those who worship You with devotion, or those who worship the Imperishable Unmanifest?
Verse 27 of 27 · back to Chapter 14