Chapter 9 · Shloka 17— The Yoga of Royal Knowledge & Royal Secret

pitāham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ vedyaṁ pavitram oṁkāra ṛik sāma yajur eva cha

pitā

— Father

aham

— I

asya

— of this

jagataḥ

— universe

mātā

— Mother

dhātā

— Sustainer

pitāmahaḥ

— Grandsire

vedyam

— the goal of knowledge

pavitram

— the purifier

om-kāra

— the sacred syllable Om

ṛik

— the Rig Veda

sāma

— the Sama Veda

yajuḥ

— the Yajur Veda

eva

— also

cha

— and

"Pitaham asya jagato mata dhata pitamahah, vedyam pavitram omkara rk sama yajur eva ca." — I am the father of this universe, the mother, the sustainer, the grandfather; I am what is to be known, the purifier, the sacred syllable Om, and the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas. Krishna continues the great series of self-revelation (9.16–19), now identifying Himself as the source and essence of the entire cosmos and all sacred knowledge. 'Pita aham asya jagatah mata dhata pitamahah' — I am the father (pita) of this universe, the mother (mata), the sustainer/supporter (dhata), and the grandfather (pitamaha, the ultimate ancestor). The Divine is named in all the familial roles — both father and mother — embracing the full parental relationship to creation. Then He identifies with sacred knowledge: 'vedyam' — that which is to be known (the ultimate object of all knowledge); 'pavitram' — the purifier (that which makes pure); 'omkara' — the sacred syllable Om; and 'rk sama yajur eva ca' — the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas, the foundational sacred scriptures. Shankaracharya notes the comprehensiveness: the Divine is both the origin of all beings (father, mother, grandfather) and the goal and content of all sacred knowledge (what is to be known, the purifier, Om, the Vedas). Krishna is both whence we come and what we in the end seek to know. Particularly tender is the inclusion of 'mata' — mother. The Divine is not just the distant father or sovereign Lord, but also the nurturing, intimate mother of all beings. This balances the majesty of the Divine with intimacy and tenderness. The same reality that is the vast source and supreme goal is also as close and caring as a mother. The Divine encompasses both transcendent grandeur and the most intimate, nurturing love.

Krishna names himself as both father AND mother of the universe — and that detail is quietly beautiful. The Divine isn't only the distant, majestic, sovereign 'father' figure; it's also the nurturing, intimate, caring 'mother.' The same reality that is the vast cosmic source and supreme goal is also as close and tender as a parent's love. This matters for how we relate to whatever we hold sacred or ultimate. We often imagine the deepest reality as either distant and impersonal (a cosmic force, indifferent laws) or as a stern authority. Krishna insists on both grandeur AND intimacy at once: the ground of everything is simultaneously the vast source of all existence AND as near, warm, and caring as a mother holding her child. For anyone who's felt the universe is cold or that they're alone in it, this is a profound reframe: the deepest reality includes nurturing tenderness, not just power. You are held by something both infinitely vast and intimately close.

Krishna names himself as both father AND mother of the universe — and that detail is quietly beautiful. The Divine isn't only the distant, majestic, sovereign 'father' figure; it's also the nurturing, intimate, caring 'mother.' The same reality that's the vast cosmic source and supreme goal is ALSO as close and tender as a parent's love. This matters for how you relate to whatever you hold sacred or ultimate. We tend to imagine the deepest reality as either cold and impersonal (a cosmic force, indifferent laws) or as a stern authority figure. Krishna insists on both grandeur AND intimacy at once: the ground of everything is simultaneously the vast source of all existence AND as near, warm, and caring as a mother holding her child. For anyone who's ever felt the universe is cold or that they're alone in it, this is a profound reframe: the deepest reality includes nurturing tenderness, not just power. You're held by something both infinitely vast AND intimately close.

Krishna continues sharing wonderful things about Himself! He says He is the father of the whole universe — AND the mother too! He's the one who takes care of everything, like a loving parent! Isn't that beautiful? God isn't just a far-away, powerful king — God is also as close, warm, and caring as your own loving mom or dad! The same God who made the entire universe also holds you gently and cares for you, just like a parent cuddling their child. So you're never alone — you're always held in love that's both incredibly powerful AND incredibly tender and close. How comforting!