Father and greatest teacher

pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvamasya pūjyaśca gururgarīyānna tvatsamo’astyabhyadhikaḥ kuto’anyo lokatraye’apyapratimaprabhāva

You are father of this world, of all that moves and stands still, its greatest teacher. None equals You. Who could be greater?

What it means

Arjuna calls Krishna the father of everything, moving and still. The guru, the greatest teacher, worthy of honour. No one in the three worlds equals him, let alone surpasses him. Arjuna sees Krishna now as parent and teacher of the whole universe, including himself.

The story

Arjuna has lost his father, Pandu, and is about to face his teacher, Drona, in battle. Here he finds the father and teacher who can never be lost.

In your life

Think of a mentor who was like a parent, guiding you through a hard season. Write them a note this week, or tell someone younger what they taught you.