बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम् । बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् ॥
bījaṃ māṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ viddhi pārtha sanātanam | buddhirbuddhimatāmasmi tejastejasvinām aham ||
Translation
Know Me, O Partha, as the eternal seed of all beings. I am the intelligence of the intelligent; I am the brilliance of the brilliant.
Interpretation
Krishna reveals himself as the eternal seed (sanatanam bijam) of all beings — the primal potential from which all existence emerges, like a cosmic seed containing the entire tree in latent form. Then two more identifications: the intelligence of the intelligent (buddhi of the buddhi-man — the discriminating capacity that makes intelligence possible) and the brilliance of the brilliant (tejas — the spiritual radiance, the excellence of those who excel). In every peak of excellence in any domain, the Divine shines.