Chapter 11Verse 39 of 55

Bhagavad Gita 11.39

वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च | नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ||

vāyur yamo'gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatis tvaṁ prapitāmahaś ca | namo namas te'stu sahasra-kṛtvaḥ punaś ca bhūyo'pi namo namas te ||

Translation

You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati, and the great-grandfather. Salutation, salutation to you a thousand times, and again and again salutation, salutation to you.

You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati, and the great-grandfather. Salutation, salutation to you a thousand times, and again and yet again, salutation, salutation to you. Vayur yamo agnir varunah shashankah prajapatis tvam prapitamahash cha. The named deities are the heads of the elemental and cosmic offices, wind, death, fire, water, moon, the lord of generation, and the great-grandfather beyond them all. Sahasra-krittvah, a thousand times. The repetition of salutations is itself the form of the verse. The hymn now moves by rhythm. Namo namaste astu, namo namaste, again and again. The verse is doing what it says. The seer is bowing in syllables. The body has been bowing for many verses. The mouth is keeping pace.

Reflection

What praise have you let become rhythm rather than performance?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Eleven

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