Chapter 15 - Verse 18

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः ।
अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ १८ ॥

yasmātkṣaramatīto’hamakṣarādapi cottamaḥ .
ato’smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ .. 18 ..


Because I transcend the perishable and am even higher than the imperishable, therefore am I known in the world and in the Veda as ‘Puruṣottama,’ the Highest Spirit.
Read the commentary

Because I transcend the perishable, the Tree of illusory samsara called Aśvattha, because I am higher than even the imperishable which constitutes the seed of that Tree of the illusory samsara, because I am thus superior to the perishable and the imperishable, I am known in the world and in the Veda as the Highest Spirit : devotees know Me as such, and the poets, too, incorporate this name in their poems and other works.

The Glory of Self-knowledge.

Now the Lord speaks of the fruit accruing to him who realises the Self as described above :