Chapter 10 · Verse 33

Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च। अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताऽहं विश्वतोमुखः
अहमेवाक्षय: कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुख: || 33|| akṣharāṇām a-kāro ’smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya cha aham evākṣhayaḥ kālo dhātāhaṁ viśhvato-mukhaḥ

Word Meanings

akṣharāṇām — amongst all letters; a-kāraḥ — the beginning letter “A”; asmi — I am; dvandvaḥ — the dual; sāmāsikasya — amongst grammatical compounds; cha — and; aham — I; eva — only; akṣhayaḥ — endless; kālaḥ — time; dhātā — amongst the creators; aham — I; viśhwataḥ-mukhaḥ — Brahma

Translation

Among letters I am the letter "A," and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am inexhaustible time, and I am the all-facing Creator who sustains all.

Commentary

अक्षराणाम् among letters? अकारः the letter A? अस्मि (I) am? द्वन्द्वः the dual? सामासिकस्य among all compounds? च and? अहम् I? एव verily? अक्षयः the inexhaustible or everlasting? कालः time? धाता the dispenser? अहम् I? विश्वतोमुखः the Allfaced (or having faces in all directions).Commentary Among the alphabets I am the letter A. Among the various kinds of compounds used in Sanskrit language I am the Dvandva (union of the two)? the copulative.Time here refers to the moment? the ultimate element of time or to Paramesvara? the Supreme Lord Who is the time of even time? since He is beyond time.As the Supreme Being is allpervading it is said that He has faces in all directions.