Chapter 15Verse 18 of 20

Bhagavad Gita 15.18

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः । अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥

yasmāt kṣaram atīto 'ham akṣarād api cottamaḥ | ato 'smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ ||

Translation

Since I transcend the perishable and am higher even than the imperishable, therefore I am celebrated in the world and in the Veda as the Highest Person.

Krishna identifies the office-holder. I am that uttama. Past kshara is one move; uttama past akshara also is the second, harder to land. Even the changeless witness is exceeded by him. Therefore the title in both common speech and scripture: Purushottama, Supreme Person. Verse explains the name of the chapter from inside the chapter. Tone is not boast. Tone is identification, the same way someone says I am the doctor here when finally identifying responsibility. Beginner version: the address up the stem of the tree has a name now. Run it once when the verse closes. Purushottama.

Reflection

What lands when the address up the stem finally has a name to speak?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Fifteen

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