God is Everything

The Shloka

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त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव

त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।

त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव

त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥

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tvameva mātā ca pitā tvameva tvameva bandhuśca sakhā tvameva ।

tvameva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvameva tvameva sarvaṃ mama deva deva॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka is a profound expression of complete surrender and devotion to the divine. It emphasizes that the Lord is the ultimate source of all support, sustenance, and fulfillment in life. By equating the divine with mother, father, relatives, friends, knowledge, and wealth, the devotee acknowledges that God encompasses every aspect of existence and provides everything needed for spiritual and material well-being. It signifies a state of absolute trust and dependence on the divine, where all worldly relationships and possessions are seen as manifestations of God’s grace.

You are my mother and father, You are my kinsman and friend, You are my knowledge and my wealth, You are my all, O my Lord, O Lord.

This devotional verse states that God is everything to the devotee: mother, father, relative, friend, knowledge, wealth, and ultimately, all existence.

This powerful mantra, often chanted as a prayer, expresses the highest form of devotion and reliance on the Supreme Being. The repetition of ‘tvameva’ (You alone) underscores the singularity and all-encompassing nature of the divine. When the devotee calls the Lord ‘mother’ and ‘father,’ it signifies that the divine provides not only birth and sustenance but also unconditional love, protection, and guidance through all stages of life, fulfilling the roles that biological parents play, but to an infinite degree. Referring to the Lord as ‘kinsman’ and ‘friend’ highlights the deep personal connection, companionship, and unwavering support found in the divine relationship, which transcends any worldly bond. By calling the Lord ‘knowledge’ and ‘wealth,’ the devotee acknowledges that true understanding, wisdom, and all forms of prosperity originate from the divine. Ultimately, the declaration ‘You are my all’ signifies that the Lord is the essence of existence, the source of everything, and the only true refuge, providing ultimate peace and fulfillment.

Sentence - 1

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त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव ।

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Meaning

You alone are the mother and you alone are the father.

Meaning of Words

त्वमेव	tvameva	You alone
माता	mātā
mother The one who gives birth and nurtures; the primary caregiver who provides love, protection, and sustenance.
च	ca	and
पिता	pitā
father The one who provides protection, guidance, and support; a progenitor and provider.

Sentence - 2

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त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।

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Meaning

You alone are the kinsman and you alone are the friend.

Meaning of Words

बन्धुः	bandhuḥ
kinsman/relative One who is related by blood or by strong affinity, providing a sense of belonging and support through shared connections and kinship.
सखा	sakhā
friend A companion with whom one shares mutual affection, trust, and support; a confidant and ally in all circumstances.

Sentence - 3

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त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव ।

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Meaning

You alone are the knowledge and you alone are the wealth.

Meaning of Words

विद्या	vidyā
knowledge/learning The understanding and wisdom gained through study, experience, or insight; enlightenment and the means to discern truth.
द्रविणं	dravinam
wealth/substance Possessions, riches, or resources; that which is valuable and sustains life, but in this context, refers to the ultimate sustainer of existence.

Sentence - 4

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त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥

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Meaning

You are everything to me, O my Lord, O Lord.

Meaning of Words

सर्वं	sarvam
everything The totality of all existence; the ultimate reality encompassing all that is, was, and will be.
मम	mama	my
देव	deva
O Lord A divine being, a god; used here as an invocation to the supreme being, expressing reverence and devotion.

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