Bhagavad Gita · Raja Vidya Raja Guhya YogaChapter 9, Shloka 17 (9.17)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः
वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च
॥ 9.17 ॥
pitā'hamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ
vedyaṃ pavitramoṅkāra ṛk sāma yajureva ca
Translation
"I am the father of this world, the mother, the sustainer and the grandfather; I am what is to be known, the purifier, Om, and also the Rig, Sama and Yajur (Vedas)."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. Pitā janayitā … mātā janayitrī — the father and mother who give birth; dhātā karma-phalasya prāṇibhyo vidhātā — the one who dispenses to beings the fruits of their actions; pitāmahaḥ pituḥ pitā.
Acharya Ramanuja. Tatra tatra pitṛtvena mātṛtvena dhātṛtvena pitāmahatvena ca vartamānaḥ aham eva — everywhere it is I who am present as father, mother, sustainer and grandfather; dhātṛ-śabdo mātṛ-pitṛ-vyatirikte utpatti-prayojake cetana-viśeṣe — "sustainer" means someone other than mother and father who helps bring a life into being (such as those who rear and nourish); vedakaś ca veda-bīja-bhūtaḥ praṇavaḥ — Om, the seed of the Vedas.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.