FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 9.16

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञ: स्वधाहमहमौषधम् । मन्‍त्रोऽहमहमेवाज्यमहमग्न‍िरहं हुतम् ॥ १६ ॥
ahaṁ kratur ahaṁ yajñaḥ
[aham kratur aham yajnah]
svadhāham aham auṣadham
[svadhaaham aham aushadham]
mantro ’ham aham evājyam
[mantro ’ham aham evaajyam]
aham agnir ahaṁ hutam
[aham agnir aham hutam]
Word-for-word
aham — I kratuḥ — Vedic ritual aham — I yajñaḥ — smṛti sacrifice svadhā — oblation aham — I aham — I auṣadham — healing herb mantraḥ — transcendental chant aham — I aham — I eva — certainly ājyam — melted butter aham — I agniḥ — fire aham — I hutam — offering .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ahaṁ kratur ahaṁ yajñaḥ
aham
I
kratuḥ
Vedic ritual
aham
I
yajñaḥ
smṛti sacrifice
svadhāham aham auṣadham
svadhā
oblation
aham
I
aham
I
auṣadham
healing herb
mantro ’ham aham evājyam
mantraḥ
transcendental chant
aham
I
aham agnir ahaṁ hutam
aham
I
eva
certainly
ājyam
melted butter
aham
I
agniḥ
fire
aham
I
hutam
offering .
Important Words
  • kratuḥ — the ritual
    Vedic kratu — the major sacrificial rite (jyotiṣṭoma, agniṣṭoma, etc.). Kṛṣṇa identifies Himself with the highest tier of Vedic ritualism. The kratu's authority comes from Him, not from its own complexity.
  • yajñaḥ — the sacrifice
    The smṛti yajña — sacrificial activity in the broader sense. Together with kratu the verse covers both Vedic śruti and smṛti ritual. The whole sacrificial culture is internally one Person.
  • svadhā — the offering to the ancestors
    Svadhā — the formula and substance offered to pitṛs (departed ancestors). Kṛṣṇa is the food that nourishes the pitṛs. Even what reaches the ancestral realm is sourced in Him.
  • auṣadham — the healing herb
    Oṣadhi — the medicinal plant. Connecting yajña to āyurveda: the herb that cures is also Kṛṣṇa. Health is yajña; the herb is His body.
  • mantraḥ — the transcendental chant
    Mantra — the sound that, by being uttered, accomplishes the work. Kṛṣṇa is the mantra. The syllables are not symbols pointing at Him; they are Him in sonic form.
  • ājyam — the clarified butter
    Ājya — the ghee offered to the fire. The richest, most central oblation. Kṛṣṇa is the very ghee that drops into the flame — the offering itself, not just the offered-to.
  • agniḥ — the fire
    Agni — fire personified, the divine messenger who carries oblations to the gods. Kṛṣṇa is also the fire. The link between offerer and recipient is also Him.
  • hutam — the act of offering
    Past participle of √hu — to pour out. Even the verbal act of offering — what is huta — is Kṛṣṇa. There is no role in the yajña He does not occupy; the entire ritual is His self-conversation.
But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering.
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)
Eight 'I am's collapse the whole Vedic ritual apparatus into Kṛṣṇa Himself: rite, sacrifice, ancestral offering, herb, mantra, ghee, fire, and the offered substance. Worship of yajña was always worship of Him.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
This vibhūti-section begins; ritual, materials, agents, and effects are all the Lord. The point is not metaphysical reduction but devotional integration: every Vedic activity the listener knows is reframed as encounter with Kṛṣṇa. Cross-ref BG 4.24 (brahmārpaṇaṁ), which already merged offering and Brahman; 9.16 personalises that move.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
अहं क्रतुः, अहं यज्ञः, अहं स्वधा, अहम् औषधम्, अहं मन्त्रः, अहम् एव आज्यम्, अहम् अग्निः, अहं हुतम् (अस्मि) ।
ahaṃ kratuḥ, ahaṃ yajñaḥ, ahaṃ svadhā, aham auṣadham, ahaṃ mantraḥ, aham eva ājyam, aham agniḥ, ahaṃ hutam (asmi) |
I am the kratu (Vedic rite), I am the yajña, I am the svadhā (offering to ancestors), I am the healing herb, I am the mantra, I alone am the clarified butter, I am the fire, I am the oblation.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अहं क्रतुः अहं यज्ञः स्वधा अहम् अहम् औषधम् । मन्त्रः अहम् अहम् एव आज्यम् अहम् अग्निः अहं हुतम् ॥
ahaṃ kratuḥ ahaṃ yajñaḥ svadhā aham aham auṣadham | mantraḥ aham aham eva ājyam aham agniḥ ahaṃ hutam ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अहम् aham अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular) I
क्रतुः kratuḥ क्रतु (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) Vedic rite
यज्ञः yajñaḥ यज्ञ (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) sacrifice
स्वधा svadhā स्वधा (f.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) ancestral offering
औषधम् auṣadham औषध (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) healing herb
मन्त्रः mantraḥ मन्त्र (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) mantra
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic indeed
आज्यम् ājyam आज्य (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) clarified butter
अग्निः agniḥ अग्नि (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) fire
हुतम् hutam √हु p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. oblation
Purport

The Vedic sacrifice known as Jyotiṣṭoma is also Kṛṣṇa, and He is also the Mahā-yajña mentioned in the smṛti. The oblations offered to the Pitṛloka or the sacrifice performed to please the Pitṛloka, considered as a kind of drug in the form of clarified butter, is also Kṛṣṇa. The mantras chanted in this connection are also Kṛṣṇa. And many other commodities made with milk products for offering in the sacrifices are also Kṛṣṇa. The fire is also Kṛṣṇa because fire is one of the five material elements and is therefore claimed as the separated energy of Kṛṣṇa. In other words, the Vedic sacrifices recommended in the karma-kāṇḍa division of the Vedas are in total also Kṛṣṇa. Or, in other words, those who are engaged in rendering devotional service unto Kṛṣṇa are to be understood to have performed all the sacrifices recommended in the Vedas.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
16-19. I am the sacrifices mentioned in the śruti and smṛti, the offering to the Pitṛs, the herbs, the mantra, the ghee, the fire and the act of offering. I am the father of the universe, the mother, the maintainer, the grandfather, the object of knowledge, the purifier, om, the Ṛk, Sāma and Yajur Vedas. I am the result, the master, the controller, the witness, the abode, the shelter, the friend. I am creation, destruction and maintenance, the treasure, the indestructible cause. I create heat, withdraw rain and then shower it. I am liberation and bondage, the subtle and gross, O Arjuna.
Commentary

“How one can worship You as viśvarūpa in many ways (bahudhā)?” The Lord speaks four verses in response. Kratu means sacrifices mentioned in the śruti like the agniṣṭoma. Yajña refers to sacrifices mentioned in the smṛtis like vaiśvadeva-homa. Auṣadham refers to food made from herbs. I am the father (pitā) because I give rise to individual and total ingredients (material cause) for all the universes. I am the mother (mātā) because I hold within My womb the universe. I am the nourisher (dātā) of the universe. I am the grandfather, because I produce the creator of the universe, Brahmā. I am the object to be known and the object which purifies. I am the result (gati), the master (bhartṛ), the controller (prabhu), the seer of all good and bad things (sakṣi), the abode (nivāsaḥ), the deliverer from dangers (śaraṇam), and the motiveless benefactor (suhṛt). I am the act of creation, destruction and maintenance (prabhava-pralaya-sthānam). I am the treasures (nidhānam) such as padma-nidhi and śaṅkha-nidhi, [Note: These are some of Kuvera’s treasures.] the cause (bījam), which is indestructible (avyayam), unlike rice and other seeds which are temporary. Being the sun, I cause heat in the summer, and shower rain in the rainy season, and sometimes I also hold back the rain. I am liberation (amṛtam), and repeated birth and death in bondage (mṛtyuḥ). I am the subtle and the gross (sad-asad). Thus the person, thinking that I am all of this, worships Me as the form of universe. These verses are thus connected with the last part of verse 15 which mentions the universal form.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
16-19. I am the vedic and smārta sacrifices, the offering to the pitṛs, the herbs, the mantra, the ghee, the fire and the act of offering. I am the father of the universe, the mother, the maintainer, the grandfather, the object of knowledge, the purifier, om, the ṛk, sāma and yajur Vedas. I am the method, the master, the controller, the witness, the abode, the shelter, the friend. I am creation, destruction and maintenance, the treasure, the indestructible cause or seed. I create heat, withdraw rain and then shower it. I am liberation and bondage, the subtle and gross, O Arjuna.
Commentary

In four verses Kṛṣṇa shows how He is situated in the form of the universe. Kratu refers to the Vedic śrauta sacrifices such as jyotiṣṭoma. Yajña refers to the sacrifices such as vaiśvadeva, mentioned in the smṛtis. Svadhā refers to the śrāddha rites offered to the pitas. Auṣadha means medicine or food coming from herbs. Mantra means the words such as yājyāpuro nu uttered in offering oblations to the devatās. Ajya means the substances for offering such as ghee. The fires (agni) used for sacrifice are of various types such as āhavanīya. Hūta means the act of offering oblations. I am situated as the soul of all those things. I am situated as the mother, the father and the grandfather of each moving and non-moving thing in the universe. I, in the form of kings and others, am situated as the maintainer and nourisher in all those entities (dhātā). Because I am the possessor of all energies material and spiritual, and the paramātmā within all matter and jīvas, the number of living entities to maintain is no problem for Me. I am what is to be known (vedyam) and what purifies (pavitram)—the waters of rivers like the Gaṅgā. I am om, the seed of all the Vedas and the cause of knowledge of Brahman, the object of knowledge (vedyam). I am the three Vedas, ṛk, yajus and sāma. The word ca indicates Atharva Veda. Rk also refers to the vedic verse with regular syllables. Sāma refers to those verses with regular meter and which are sung. Some say that sāma refers to any verse which is sung. Yajus refers to verses not sung and with irregular syllables. I am these three types of mantras useful in rites. Gati means the method or path by which a goal is achieved, literally “that by which something is attained (gamyate). Bhartā means a protector. Prabhu means controller. Sākṣī means the seer of all sinful and pious acts. Nivāsa means a place of enjoyment, literally, where one resides. Śaraṇa means He who takes away the suffering or the person who approaches. The derivation of the word is “that in which suffering will be destroyed (duḥkham śīrṣyate asmin).” Suhṛt is one who does beneficial activities for someone else because of that person’s qualifications. prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ refer to the acts of creation destruction, and maintenance. Nidhānam refer to the nine treasures such as padma nidhi. [Note: Kuvera has nine treasures: padmanidhi, mahānidhi, saṅkhanidhi, makaranidhi, kacchapanidhi, mukundanidhi, nandanidhi, nīlanidhi and kharvanidhi.] Bijam means the cause which is indestructible I am not perishable like rice and other material seeds. In the form of the sun, I heat the universe during the summer. During monsoon season, I release rain (varṣam) in the form of clouds. Sometimes in the form of drought, I draw back the rain. I am liberation (amṛtam) and saṁsāra (mṛtyuḥ). I am the gross (sat) and the subtle (asat). I alone am all of this. I, the son of Vasudeva, one person, holding all powers, am situated in the form of the whole universe with many names and forms. Some worship Me with this jñāna yajña, which searches out the one person in these many things.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Vedic sacrifices of ‘Karma-kanda’ division are in total also Krishna

Those in devotional service are to be understood to have performed all sacrifices recommended in the Vedas
Study translation for all the components of sacrifice

Focus of Learning

Of all the components of sacrifice, only the important terms are clarified here:

(a) ‘Ritual’ – Vedic Sacrifice known as Jyotistoma is also Krishna

(b) ‘Sacrifice’ – Maha-yajna mentioned in Smrti is also Krishna

(c) ‘Oblations’ – “Offerings to Pitraloka”

(d) ‘Fire’ – One of the five material elements; therefore separated energy of Krishna

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF TEXTS 9.16 – 9.25

Seeing Lord Krishna’s superiority in terms of the ‘material world’ as well as ‘over demigods’, will lead one to worship him directly
Since Krishna is both matter and spirit, the gigantic universal form comprising all material manifestations is also Krishna and His Vrindavana pastimes as two-handed Shyamasundara, playing on a flute, are those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(a) Why ‘Ekatvena’ is considered God worship, although they worship themselves as one with

Supreme (as ‘God’ )

Because at least they have the sense, that we are not the material body but spirit soul

(b) 3 Levels of Krishna worshipers

‘Mahatmas’ – Topmost (9.13 – 9.14)
4 Types of Sukrtinas (7.16)
3 Types of Jnanis discussed here in Text 9.15 – ‘Ekatvena’, ‘Prthaktvena’ and ‘Visvato-mukham’
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
9.16 Aham, I; am the kratuh, a kind of Vedic sacrifice; I Myself am the yajnah, sacrifice as prescribed by the Smrtis; further, I am svadha, the food that is offered to the manes; I am ausadham-by which word is meant the food that is eaten by all creatures. Or, svadha means food in general of all creatures, and ausadha means medicine for curing diseases. I am the mantra with which offering is made to manes and gods. I Myself am the ajyam, oblations; and I am agnih, the fire-I Myself am the fire into which the oblation is poured. And I am the hutam, act of offering. Besides,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
9.16 I am the Kratu, namely, I am Jyotistoma and other Vedic sacrifices. I alone am the Great Sacrifice (the fivefold sacrifices). I am the Svadha, the libation offered to nourish the hosts of manes. I am the herb, namely, oblation. I am the Mantra. I alone am the clarified butter. This implies other illustrations also. I alone am the oblation of Soma etc. Such is the meaning. I am the fire such as Ahavaniya etc. I am the act of offering into fire.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
9.16 See Comment under 9.19
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
9.16 I am the Kratu; I am the Yajna; I am the offering (food) to the manes; I am the medicinal herbs and all the plants; I am the Mantra; I am also the Ghee or the melted butter; I am the fire; I am the oblation.
Commentary

9.16 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)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
9.16 I am the kratu, I am the yajna, I am the svadha, I am the ausadha, I am the mantra, I Myself am the ajya, I am the fire, and I am the act of offering.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
9.16 I am the Oblation, the Sacrifice and the Worship; I am the Fuel and the Chant, I am the Butter offered to the fire, I am the Fire itself, and I am the Act of offering.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 9.17 BG 4.24 BG 10.25 SB 2.6.25 SB 4.7.27 SB 3.9.38 CC Ādi 3.77 CC Madhya 20.360 CC Ādi 3.78 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.10Taittirīya Upaniṣad 3.10
Concepts
Yajna
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
I am the ritual, the sacrifice, the offering, the herb, the mantra, the clarified butter, the fire, and what is offered.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize Kṛṣṇa as every component of sacrifice, not just the recipient.
  • Use this in puja to deepen perception.
  • Don't fragment Him into recipient versus means.
Reflection Questions
  • What component of my sacrifice am I treating as not-Him?
  • How does seeing all-as-Him change the offering?
Analogy

Walk into a Vedic sacrificial hall. Look around: the priest chants, the butter pours, the fire roars, the offering disappears upward. The materialist sees five things — chant, butter, fire, offering, priest. Kṛṣṇa says: look again. All five are Me. Like a master playwright who is also the actor, the costume, the stage, the line, and the laughter from the audience — the yajña has only one substance running through every role.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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