Bhagavad Gita 11.40 — Salutations from Every Side; You Are Everything
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व ।
अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥ ११.४० ॥
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Salutations to You from the front and from behind; salutations to You from every side, O All. You are of infinite power and immeasurable might. You pervade everything, and therefore You are everything.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| namaḥ | salutations |
| purastāt | from the front |
| atha | and |
| pṛiṣhṭhataḥ | from behind |
| te | to You |
| namaḥ | salutations |
| astu | let there be |
| te | to You |
| sarvataḥ | from all sides |
| eva | indeed |
| sarva | O All |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| ananta-vīrya-amita-vikramaḥ | of infinite power and immeasurable valor |
| tvam | You |
| sarvam | everything |
| samāpnoṣhi | You pervade |
| tataḥ | therefore |
| asi | You are |
| sarvaḥ | everything |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| namaḥ | salutations | ananta-vīrya-amita-vikramaḥ | of infinite power and immeasurable valor |
| purastāt | from the front | tvam | You |
| atha | and | sarvam | everything |
| pṛiṣhṭhataḥ | from behind | samāpnoṣhi | You pervade |
| te | to You | tataḥ | therefore |
| namaḥ | salutations | asi | You are |
| astu | let there be | sarvaḥ | everything |
| te | to You | ||
| sarvataḥ | from all sides | ||
| eva | indeed | ||
| sarva | O All | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Arjuna bows to the Lord in front, behind, and on every side. He praises his infinite valour and immeasurable might, and says that because the Lord pervades everything, he is everything.
Essence
Bowing in All Directions
Arjuna's salutations now encircle the Lord. This is a beautiful expression of devotion that has no direction or limit, matching the Lord's own omnipresence.
Namaḥ purastād atha pṛṣṭhatas te (salutations before you and behind you): Ordinarily we bow to the front of a person. Since the Lord is everywhere, there is no back or front, and Arjuna bows on every side.
Namo'stu te sarvata eva sarva (salutations to you from all sides, O All): The address sarva, meaning 'All', is striking. The Lord is not merely in everything; in a deeper sense he is everything.
Ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvam (you are of infinite valour and immeasurable might): Vīrya is potency and vikrama is the power in action. Both are limitless, which makes the Lord's presence the source of all strength.
Sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi tato'si sarvaḥ (you pervade all, therefore you are all): This is the philosophical heart of the verse. Because the Lord completely pervades the universe, nothing exists apart from him. This sets the foundation for seeing the sacred in everything.
Message for Everyday Life (Respect in All Directions)
Treat everyone with respect: If the divine is present everywhere, then every person deserves dignity, whether in front of us or behind us, in public or in private.
Practical approach: Practise speaking about people with the same respect whether or not they are present. Integrity is respect that does not depend on an audience.
Bowing in All Directions
Arjuna's salutations now encircle the Lord. This is a beautiful expression of devotion that has no direction or limit, matching the Lord's own omnipresence.
Namaḥ purastād atha pṛṣṭhatas te (salutations before you and behind you): Ordinarily we bow to the front of a person. Since the Lord is everywhere, there is no back or front, and Arjuna bows on every side.
Namo'stu te sarvata eva sarva (salutations to you from all sides, O All): The address sarva, meaning 'All', is striking. The Lord is not merely in everything; in a deeper sense he is everything.
Ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvam (you are of infinite valour and immeasurable might): Vīrya is potency and vikrama is the power in action. Both are limitless, which makes the Lord's presence the source of all strength.
Sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi tato'si sarvaḥ (you pervade all, therefore you are all): This is the philosophical heart of the verse. Because the Lord completely pervades the universe, nothing exists apart from him. This sets the foundation for seeing the sacred in everything.
Message for Everyday Life (Respect in All Directions)
Treat everyone with respect: If the divine is present everywhere, then every person deserves dignity, whether in front of us or behind us, in public or in private.
Practical approach: Practise speaking about people with the same respect whether or not they are present. Integrity is respect that does not depend on an audience.
Next Topic
Arjuna has bowed on all sides and declared the Lord to be everything. In the next verse, he turns to his own past conduct and confesses how casually he treated the Lord as a mere friend, not knowing his greatness.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Front or back, the Divine faces you.
Nothing is outside the One who is everywhere.
Strength without end needs no display.
Honor everything as part of the whole.
Total devotion has no blind side.
See one, see all.
The whole is in every part.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'purastāt' (from the front) and 'pṛiṣhṭhataḥ' (from behind) mean?
Why does Arjuna say 'sarvataḥ eva' (from all sides indeed)?
Why is the Lord called 'sarva' (All)?
What do 'ananta-vīrya' (infinite power) and 'amita-vikrama' (immeasurable valor) describe?
What does 'samāpnoṣhi' (You pervade) tell us?
Explore related topics
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