Meaning
Supreme God Krishna spoke
Among all letters, I am the letter "अ";^3 among compound words, I am the dual compound (Dwandva Samāsa) in the Sanskrit language. Among the few constants in the universe, I am Kāla, (the destiny of doom or death) and I am the One with a face on all sides, (perceiving all directions). (10:33)
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च ।
अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुखः॥
Word-by-word
अक्षराणाम् अकारः अस्मि, द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च,
अहम् एव अक्षयः कालः, धाता अहम् विश्वतः-मुखः।
Footnotes
^3 The first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet is "अ" (pronounced "a" as in “about”), and it corresponds to the first letter of God's original three-lettered name and His audible symbol, "Aum" (or "Om," "ॐ").