Chapter XI · Śloka 37
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे |
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ||
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे |
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ||
kasmāc ca te na nameran mahātman
garīyase brahmaṇo 'py ādi-kartre |
ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa
tvam akṣaraṃ sad-asat tat paraṃ yat ||
garīyase brahmaṇo 'py ādi-kartre |
ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa
tvam akṣaraṃ sad-asat tat paraṃ yat ||
And why should they not bow to You, O Great Soul, who are even greater than Brahmā, the original creator? O Infinite One, O Lord of the gods, O refuge of the universe, You are the imperishable, the being, the non-being, and that which is beyond both.
Arjuna's theology crystallises in this verse: Krishna is prior to Brahmā, encompassing both sat (existence) and asat (non-existence), and yet transcending both. This is not abstract philosophy — it is awe articulated.