Why would anyone not bow?

kasmācca te na nameranmahātman garīyase brahmaṇo’apyādikartreananta deveśa jagannivāsa tvamakṣaraṃ sadasattatparaṃ yat

Why should they not bow to You, greater even than Brahma? Infinite, home of the world, You are what is, what is not, and beyond.

What it means

Arjuna's praise grows. Of course everyone bows, he says. You're greater even than Brahma, the first creator. Infinite. Lord of gods. The home of the world. You are sat and asat, being and non-being, and whatever lies beyond even those. Words are stretching to their limit.

The story

Arjuna is a prince who has bowed only to elders and teachers. Now he understands that bowing to the infinite isn't humiliation. It's the most natural response in the world.

In your life

Think of standing before a vast canyon or ancient forest and instinctively falling silent. That's a bow. Let yourself be humbled by something greater this week.