न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः ।अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ॥
na me viduḥ suragaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ | aham ādir hi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||
- न विदुः · na viduḥ
- they do not know
- सुरगणाः · suragaṇāḥ
- the hosts of gods
- प्रभवम् · prabhavam
- the origin, coming-forth
- महर्षयः · maharṣayaḥ
- the great seers
- अहम् · aham
- I
- आदिः · ādiḥ
- the beginning, source
- देवानाम् · devānām
- of the gods
- सर्वशः · sarvaśaḥ
- in every way
“Neither the hosts of gods nor the great seers know my origin — for I am the source of the gods and the great seers in every way.”
— Original plain-language translation
The effect cannot compass its cause: gods and seers alike derive from what they would explain. Sourcehood sets Krishna beyond every lineage. Wonder, not analysis, is the fitting response.
— Reader's notes (original)