Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 9.17

“I am the father, mother, creator, grandfather, the knowable, the purifier, the syllable Om, and the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas.”
Key Teaching: Krishna is the source of creation and sacred knowledge.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that he is the father, mother, creator, grandfather, the knowable, the purifier, the syllable Om, and the Rig, Sama, and Yajur Vedas. This verse, continuing 9.16, addresses Arjuna’s need for divine understanding (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies his cosmic role, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes his supreme nature, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s ignorance (1.28–46) obscures Krishna’s cosmic role, unlike Duryodhana’s material pursuits (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to see him as the source for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 9.16). Krishna is all sacred knowledge.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human quest for divine origin, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on his pervasion (9.4). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to recognize him as creation’s source. The theme of Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on divine supremacy.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its cosmic clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s origins, where Krishna is the source. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with divine recognition, aligning with liberation.