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Bhagavad-gītā 10.33

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्व: सामासिकस्य च । अहमेवाक्षय: कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुख: ॥ ३३ ॥
akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
[aksharaanaam a-kaaro ’smi]
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
[dvandvah saamaasikasya cha]
aham evākṣayaḥ kālo
[aham evaakshayah kaalo]
dhātāhaṁ viśvato-mukhaḥ
[dhaataaham vishvato-mukhah]
Word-for-word
akṣarāṇām — of letters a - kāraḥ — the first letter asmi — I am dvandvaḥ — the dual sāmāsikasya — of compounds ca — and aham — I am eva — certainly akṣayaḥ — eternal kālaḥ — time dhātā — the creator aham — I am viśvataḥ - mukhaḥ — Brahmā .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
akṣarāṇām
of letters
a - kāraḥ
the first letter
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
asmi
I am
dvandvaḥ
the dual
aham evākṣayaḥ kālo
sāmāsikasya
of compounds
ca
and
aham
I am
eva
certainly
akṣayaḥ
eternal
kālaḥ
time
dhātāhaṁ viśvato-mukhaḥ
dhātā
the creator
aham
I am
viśvataḥ - mukhaḥ
Brahmā .
Important Words
  • a - kāraḥ — the first letter A
    Compound: a (the vowel) + kāraḥ (the making, the syllable). The first phoneme of Sanskrit, the open vowel from which all other sounds derive. Kṛṣṇa picks the primordial sound itself, the seed of every alphabet.
  • dvandvaḥ — the dual
    Among Sanskrit's six samāsa-types (tatpuruṣa, dvandva, karmadhāraya, etc.), dvandva is the compound where both members retain equal status — neither subordinates the other. Kṛṣṇa picks the egalitarian form, perhaps as a hint about balanced relationships.
  • akṣayaḥ — eternal, inexhaustible
    From a (not) + kṣaya (decay). Modifying kālaḥ — distinguishes the infinite, dissolution-surviving time from ordinary measured time. Kṛṣṇa identifies with the kāla that does not itself end.
  • kālaḥ — time
    Time itself, qualified here by akṣayaḥ. The same kālaḥ that verse 30 named as 'subduer of subduers' returns here as Kṛṣṇa's own form — the great background measure of every existence.
  • dhātā — the creator
    From dhā — 'to place, establish.' The cosmic supporter and arranger. Kṛṣṇa identifies with the function of holding-together and bringing-forth, exercised in the universe through Brahmā but originating in Himself.
  • viśvataḥ - mukhaḥ — Brahmā, the four-headed one whose faces look in every direction
    Compound: viśvataḥ (in all directions) + mukha (face). Brahmā's epithet — his four faces survey the four quarters. Kṛṣṇa picks among creators the one whose vision is omnidirectional.
Of letters I am the letter A, and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahmā.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
A among letters (its precondition), dvandva among compounds (its egalitarian pair-form), inexhaustible time, and the all-faced Creator. Kṛṣṇa names principles of speech, of duration, and of cosmic dispensation in one sweep.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The letter A is the inaudible base of every Sanskrit syllable. Choosing dvandva (which, in Pāṇini, allows constituents equal weight) is theologically charged: Kṛṣṇa identifies with the compound-type that does not subordinate one element to another. Akṣaya kāla and Dhātā (Brahmā with viśvato-mukha epithet, echoing Ṛgveda 10.81.3 to Viśvakarman) round out cosmic structure.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
अक्षराणां (मध्ये) अ-कारः अस्मि; सामासिकस्य (समासस्य) (मध्ये) च द्वन्द्वः (अस्मि); अहम् एव अक्षयः कालः (अस्मि); अहं विश्वतः-मुखः धाता (अस्मि) ।
akṣarāṇāṃ (madhye) a-kāraḥ asmi; sāmāsikasya (samāsasya) (madhye) ca dvandvaḥ (asmi); aham eva akṣayaḥ kālaḥ (asmi); ahaṃ viśvataḥ-mukhaḥ dhātā (asmi) |
Among letters I am the letter A; among kinds of compound I am the dvandva (pair-compound); I alone am inexhaustible time; I am the all-facing creator (Brahmā).
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अक्षराणाम् अ-कारः अस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च । अहम् एव अक्षयः कालः धाता अहं विश्वतः-मुखः ॥
akṣarāṇām a-kāraḥ asmi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca | aham eva akṣayaḥ kālaḥ dhātā ahaṃ viśvataḥ-mukhaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अक्षराणाम् akṣarāṇām अक्षर (n.) gen.pl. (genitive plural) among letters
अ-कारः a-kāraḥ अ (n.) + कार (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) the letter A
अस्मि asmi √अस् 1sg. I am
द्वन्द्वः dvandvaḥ द्वन्द्व (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) the dvandva (pair) compound
सामासिकस्य sāmāsikasya सामासिक (adj.) gen.sg. (genitive singular)m./n. of/among (kinds of) compound
च ca ind. (indeclinable) and
अहम् एव aham eva अस्मद् + ind. (indeclinable) I alone
अक्षयः कालः akṣayaḥ kālaḥ अ + क्षय (adj.) + काल (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), karmadhāraya imperishable time
धाता dhātā धातृ (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) the dispenser, creator (Brahmā)
अहम् aham अस्मद् nom.sg. (nominative singular) I
विश्वतः-मुखः viśvataḥ-mukhaḥ विश्वतस् + मुख (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) whose face is on every side
Purport

A-kāra, the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, is the beginning of the Vedic literature. Without a-kāra, nothing can be sounded; therefore it is the beginning of sound. In Sanskrit there are also many compound words, of which the dual word, like rāma-kṛṣṇa, is called dvandva. In this compound, the words rāma and kṛṣṇa have the same form, and therefore the compound is called dual. Among all kinds of killers, time is the ultimate because time kills everything. Time is the representative of Kṛṣṇa because in due course of time there will be a great fire and everything will be annihilated. Among the living entities who are creators, Brahmā, who has four heads, is the chief. Therefore he is a representative of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
33. I am the letter “a” among all letters. Among compounds, I am the dvandva. Among destroyers, I am Śiva and among creators, I am Brahmā, with four faces.
Commentary

The dvandva compound is superior among compounds since its elements are equal. [Note: In the avyayībhāva compound the first element is more important: adhyātma, in the soul. In the tat-puruṣa compound the second element is more important: guṇātita, surpassing the guṇas. In the bahu-vrīhi compound both elements are unimportant, depending on reference to a third element: mahā-bahuḥ, one who has strong arms.] Among destroyers I am indestructible time. This refers to Mahākāla, Rudra, famous as the destroyer. Among the creators I am Brahmā (dhātā), with four faces (viśvato mukhaḥ).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
33. I am the letter “a” among all letters. Among compounds, I am the dvandva. Among destroyers, I am the fire of universal destruction, and among creators, I am Brahma.
Commentary

Among the letters, I am “a.” The śruti says a-kāro vai sarvā vāk: the letter “a” is all letters. (Aitareya Āraṇyaka1.3.6) Among all types of compound words, I am the dvandva, because both elements have equal importance. In the other types of compounds avyayībhāva, tatpuruṣa, and bahuvrīhi one element is given more importance. Among the destroyers, I am the indestructible Kāla. This is the fire emanating from the mouth of Saṅkarṣana at the time of universal destruction. Among creators I am four-headed Brahmā (dhātā).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

In sanskrit no word can be pronounced without the vowel A. Similarly nothing can exist without Krsna. This 'compound word', according to Srila Jiva Goswami, in his grammar, is called the 'Rama‑Krsna' compound. It is when both parts are important. In other compounds, sometimes the first part is important but the second isn't or vice‑versa, or neither are important.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
10.33 Aksaranam, of the letters; I am the akarah, letter a. Samasikasya, of the group of compound words, I am the compund (called) Dvandva. Besieds, aham eva, I Myself; am the aksayah, infinite, endless; kalah, time, well known as 'moment' etc.; or, I am the supreme God who is Kala (Time, the measurer) even of time. I am the dhata, Dispenser, the dispenser of the fruits of actions of the whole world; visvatomukhah, with faces everwhere.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
10.33 Of letters I am the alphabet 'a', which is the base of all letters as established in the Sruti: 'The letter 'a' itself is all speech' (Ai. Ai., 3.2.3). Samasika means collection of compound words. In it, I am the Dvandva compound; it is eminent because the meanings of both constituent terms are important. I am Myself imperishable Time composed of (divisions like) Kala, Muhurta etc. I am the four-faced Hiranyagarbha who is the creator of all.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
10.33 See Comment under 10.42
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
10.33 Among the letters of the alphabets, the letter 'A' I am and the dual among the compounds. I am verily the inexhaustible or everlasting time; I am the dispenser (of the fruits of actions) having faces in all directions.
Commentary

10.33 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.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
10.33 Of the letters I am the letter a, and of the group of compund words I am (the compound called) Dvandva. [Dvandva: A compound of two or more words which, if not compounded, would stand in the same case and be connected by the conjunction 'and'.-Tr.] I Mayself am the infinite time; I am the Dispenser with faces everywhere.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
10.33 Of letters I am A; I am the copulative in compound words; I am Time inexhaustible; and I am the all-pervading Preserver.
Related values & verses
Related values
Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)
Related verses
BG 7.8 BG 11.32 BG 10.6 SB 3.9.39 SB 3.10.9 SB 3.9.1 CC Ādi 5.71 CC Madhya 20.275 CC Ādi 7.128 Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad 3Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.14.4
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Of letters I am the letter A; of compounds I am the dual; I am inexhaustible time; the creator with faces in all directions.
Practical Applications
  • Treat sacred sound as His specific manifestation.
  • Read scripture aloud as participation in His sound-form.
  • Honor language itself.
Reflection Questions
  • When did I last read scripture aloud?
  • What in language reveals Him?
Analogy

Of all letters, the first — the open mouth at the start of every syllable; of compounds, the dvandva that holds equals side by side; of time, the kind that cannot be exhausted; of creators, the highest. Kṛṣṇa picks the seeds: the first letter, the most balanced compound, the longest stretch of duration, the foundational maker.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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