Commentary

Commentary

Krishna reveals His presence in the very building blocks of language. Among all the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, He is the letter A — akara. In Sanskrit, no vowel can be sounded without A; it is the foundation of all speech. Every consonant carries the implicit sound of A. It is the first letter, the beginning of all verbal expression, and therefore represents the origin of language itself.

Among compound words (samaasa), Krishna is the dvandva — the dual compound. In Sanskrit grammar, a dvandva compound joins two equal elements, as in “Rama-Krishna.” Unlike other compounds where one element is subordinate, the dvandva preserves the identity and equality of both parts. Krishna identifies Himself with this form because it represents balance and completeness.

Aham eva akshayah kaalah — “I alone am inexhaustible time.” This is one of the most powerful declarations in the chapter. Time is eternal, all-consuming, and unstoppable. It existed before creation and will continue after dissolution. Everything in the material world is subject to time, yet time itself is never exhausted. This eternal, indestructible aspect of time is Krishna’s own nature.

Finally, Krishna is dhaataa vishvatomukhah — the Creator whose face is turned in every direction. This refers to Brahma, the four-faced creator god, who looks in all directions simultaneously. Nothing in creation escapes his sight. This all-seeing, all-creating function is a direct expression of Krishna’s creative power, working through Brahma to bring the material universe into being.