Chapter 9 · Verse 16

Yoga through the King of Sciences

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्। मंत्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्निरहं हुतम्

ahaṁ kratur ahaṁ yajñaḥ svadhāham aham auṣhadham mantro ’ham aham evājyam aham agnir ahaṁ hutam

Word Meanings

aham kratuḥ aham yajñaḥ svadhā aham aham auṣhadham mantraḥ aham aham eva ājyam aham agniḥ aham hutam

Translation

I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the oblation to the ancestors, I am the healing herb; I am the sacred mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the act of offering.

Commentary

अहम् I? क्रतुः sacrifice? अहम् I? यज्ञः the sacrifice? स्वधा the offering to Pitris or ancestors? अहम् I? अहम् I? औषधम् the medicinal herbs and all plants? मन्त्रः sacred syllable? अहम् I? अहम् I? एव also? आज्यम् ghee or clarified butter? अहम् I? अग्निः the fire? अहम् I? हुतम् the offering.Commentary Kratu is a kind of Vedic sacrifice.Yajna is the worship enjoined in the Smriti or the holy books laying down lay and the code of conduct.I am the Mantra? the chant with which the oblation is offered to the manes or ancestors? and the shining ones (the Devatas or gods).Hutam also means the act of offering.Aushadham All plants including rice and barley or medicine that can cure diseases. (Cf.IV.24)