BG 15.17

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Great 🙏 Here’s Bhagavad Gita 15.17 with the original verse, transliteration, translation, and explanation:

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः।

यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।। 15.17।।

Transliteration

uttamaḥ puruṣas tv anyaḥ paramātmety udāhṛtaḥ

yo lokatrayam āviśya bibharty avyaya īśvaraḥ

Translation (Meaning)

But beyond both the perishable (kṣara — the material beings) and the imperishable (akṣara — the liberated souls), there is the Supreme Person, called the Paramātma (Supersoul). He, the immutable Lord, who has entered the three worlds, sustains and governs them.

Explanation

• In the previous verses (15.16), Krishna describes two types of beings:
  
1. Kṣara – the perishable, all living beings bound by matter.
2. Akṣara – the imperishable, the liberated souls.
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• But here, Krishna reveals a third category:
  
1. The Uttama Puruṣa (Supreme Person), who is beyond both.
2. He is called Paramātma or Puruṣottama, the Supreme Lord who is eternal, unchanging, and the sustainer of all creation.
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• This verse is central to understanding that while souls are eternal, the Supreme Lord is distinct from and above them, as the eternal maintainer and controller.

✨ In summary: This verse establishes Krishna (the Supreme Person) as beyond both the perishable and imperishable, the one who pervades and sustains the entire universe.

Would you like me to also show you how different commentators (like Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, and Prabhupada) explain this verse?

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Perfect 🙏 Here’s Bhagavad Gita 15.17 explained by major commentators:

1. Adi Shankaracharya (Advaita Vedānta)

• Shankara explains that beyond the perishable (kṣara) and the imperishable (akṣara), there is the Supreme Person (uttamaḥ puruṣaḥ).
• This is none other than Paramātmā (Supersoul) — the inner Self of all beings.
• He pervades the three worlds (heaven, earth, and the netherworld) and sustains them.
• For Shankara, this verse emphasizes the transcendent Brahman manifesting as Īśvara (Lord), distinct from both empirical beings and liberated souls.

2. Ramanujacharya (Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta)

• Ramanuja identifies the Supreme Person as Nārāyaṇa (Krishna Himself), the one who is superior to both the bound and liberated souls.
• The word “Paramātmā” means He is the indwelling controller of all beings.
• The phrase “yo lokatrayam āviśya” indicates that He enters into the three worlds (as the indwelling Self) and sustains them.
• This verse establishes the doctrine of qualified non-dualism (Viśiṣṭādvaita): the individual souls are real but dependent, and the Supreme Lord is the highest reality.

3. Madhvacharya (Dvaita Vedānta)

• Madhva stresses that the Supreme Person is eternally distinct from both perishable and imperishable beings.
• He is the independent reality, while souls are always dependent.
• For Madhva, this verse confirms the absolute difference (bheda) between the Supreme Lord and the jīvas (souls).
• Krishna as Puruṣottama is the eternal sustainer of all, and devotion (bhakti) to Him alone leads to liberation.

4. Srila Prabhupada (Gaudiya Vedānta / ISKCON)

• Prabhupada translates this as:
  “Besides these two (perishable and imperishable), there is the greatest living personality, the Supreme Soul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them.”
• He explains that this Supreme Person is Krishna Himself.
• The living entities (jīvas) are eternal, but they are subordinate.
• The Supreme Lord is beyond both matter and spirit — He is the controller, enjoyer, and maintainer of all worlds.
• Devotional service (bhakti-yoga) is the way to realize Him.

✨ Key Insight Across Commentaries:

All agree that this verse is a declaration of the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama) — distinct from both perishable beings and the imperishable souls. Where they differ is in how they frame the relationship:

• Shankara → identifies with Brahman/Īśvara (ultimately non-dual).
• Ramanuja & Madhva → emphasize Krishna/Nārāyaṇa as eternally distinct from souls.
• Prabhupada → identifies Krishna directly as the Supreme Person and stresses bhakti.

👉 Would you like me to also show you verse 15.18, which further clarifies why Krishna is called Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)?

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MLB