Chapter 10 · Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God

10.1

श्रीभगवानुवाच | भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः | यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ||१०-१||

śrībhagavānuvāca . bhūya eva mahābāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ . yatte.ahaṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hitakāmyayā ||10-1||

The Supreme Lord Krishna said: Arjuna, listen to me once more as I share my highest wisdom with you, because you are dear to me and I want what's best for you.

10.2

न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः | अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ||१०-२||

na me viduḥ suragaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ . ahamādirhi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||10-2||

Neither the gods nor the great sages understand where I come from, because I am the ultimate source of all gods and sages, the one from whom they originate.

10.3

यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम् | असम्मूढः स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ||१०-३||

yo māmajamanādiṃ ca vetti lokamaheśvaram . asammūḍhaḥ sa martyeṣu sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate ||10-3||

Whoever understands that I am unborn, have always existed, and am the supreme ruler of the universe, will not be misled and will be freed from all their sins, becoming completely liberated.

10.4

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः | सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ||१०-४||

buddhirjñānamasammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ . sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavo.abhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayameva ca ||10-4||

Krishna is explaining that His divine presence is the source of our intellect, wisdom, and freedom from confusion, as well as our capacity for forgiveness, honesty, self-discipline, and inner peace, and that He is also present in our experiences of joy and suffering, our existence and non-existence, and our feelings of fear and fearlessness.

10.5

अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः | भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः ||१०-५||

ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭistapo dānaṃ yaśo.ayaśaḥ . bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthagvidhāḥ ||10-5||

Non-harming, balance, satisfaction, self-discipline, generosity, and the experiences of honor and dishonor - all these diverse qualities that beings possess come from Krishna alone.

10.6

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा | मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ||१०-६||

maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve catvāro manavastathā . madbhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṃ loka imāḥ prajāḥ ||10-6||

The seven great sages and the four ancient Manus were born from my mind, and all living beings in this world originated from them, as they possessed a deep connection with me. These sages and Manus were imbued with my divine nature and gave rise to the various populations of the world. They were the source from which all humanity sprang.

10.7

एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः | सोऽविकम्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशयः ||१०-७||

etāṃ vibhūtiṃ yogaṃ ca mama yo vetti tattvataḥ . so.avikampena yogena yujyate nātra saṃśayaḥ ||10-7||

Whoever truly understands my divine powers and the union with me that I embody will undoubtedly attain a deep and unshakeable connection, free from doubt and uncertainty, and find perfect peace in that union.

10.8

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते | इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः ||१०-८||

ahaṃ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṃ pravartate . iti matvā bhajante māṃ budhā bhāvasamanvitāḥ ||10-8||

I am the origin of everything; all things arise from me. Knowing this, the wise who are centered in devotion worship me.

10.9

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् | कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ||१०-९||

maccittā madgataprāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam . kathayantaśca māṃ nityaṃ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca ||10-9||

Their minds and hearts fully focused on me, they inspire and teach each other, constantly talking about me, and they feel deeply fulfilled and joyful.

10.10

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् | ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ||१०-१०||

teṣāṃ satatayuktānāṃ bhajatāṃ prītipūrvakam . dadāmi buddhiyogaṃ taṃ yena māmupayānti te ||10-10||

To those who consistently connect with me, filled with love and devotion, I grant the ability to discern and understand, guiding them directly to me.

10.11

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः | नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ||१०-११||

teṣāmevānukampārthamahamajñānajaṃ tamaḥ . nāśayāmyātmabhāvastho jñānadīpena bhāsvatā ||10-11||

With compassion, I live within them and dispel the darkness of ignorance, illuminating their inner selves with the radiant light of knowledge.

10.12

अर्जुन उवाच | परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् | पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ||१०-१२||

arjuna uvāca . paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān . puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyamādidevamajaṃ vibhum ||10-12||

Arjuna said, You are the ultimate reality, the supreme sanctuary, and the purest of all, eternal and divine, the original God, unborn and all-pervading, the timeless and infinite being. You are the source of everything and the one who sustains all. You are the supreme person, beyond human limitations.

10.13

आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा | असितो देवलो व्यासः स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ||१०-१३||

āhustvāmṛṣayaḥ sarve devarṣirnāradastathā . asito devalo vyāsaḥ svayaṃ caiva bravīṣi me ||10-13||

All the sages, including the divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa, have spoken of you in this way, and now you're confirming it to me yourself.

10.14

सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव | न हि ते भगवन्व्यक्तिं विदुर्देवा न दानवाः ||१०-१४||

sarvametadṛtaṃ manye yanmāṃ vadasi keśava . na hi te bhagavanvyaktiṃ vidurdevā na dānavāḥ ||10-14||

I completely trust everything you're telling me, Krishna. The truth is, neither the gods nor the demons truly understand your divine nature or where you come from.

10.15

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम | भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ||१०-१५||

svayamevātmanātmānaṃ vettha tvaṃ puruṣottama . bhūtabhāvana bhūteśa devadeva jagatpate ||10-15||

You know yourself, Supreme Person, as the one who sustains and nourishes all beings, the Lord of the universe and the God of gods, Arjuna affirms to Krishna.

10.16

वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः | याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ||१०-१६||

vaktumarhasyaśeṣeṇa divyā hyātmavibhūtayaḥ . yābhirvibhūtibhirlokānimāṃstvaṃ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi ||10-16||

You should share with me all your divine powers and glories, through which you exist and pervade the entire universe, filling all these worlds.

10.17

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् | केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया ||१०-१७||

kathaṃ vidyāmahaṃ yogiṃstvāṃ sadā paricintayan . keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo.asi bhagavanmayā ||10-17||

How can I come to know you, Krishna, through constant meditation and reflection? In what ways and forms should I focus my thoughts on you, so I can truly understand and connect with you?

10.18

विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन | भूयः कथय तृप्तिर्हि शृण्वतो नास्ति मेऽमृतम् ||१०-१८||

vistareṇātmano yogaṃ vibhūtiṃ ca janārdana . bhūyaḥ kathaya tṛptirhi śṛṇvato nāsti me.amṛtam ||10-18||

Tell me again, Krishna, about the full extent of your divine power and glory. I'm not satisfied with hearing about it just once - your words are like a lifegiving elixir that I never tire of.

10.19

श्रीभगवानुवाच | हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः | प्राधान्यतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे ||१०-१९||

śrībhagavānuvāca . hanta te kathayiṣyāmi divyā hyātmavibhūtayaḥ . prādhānyataḥ kuruśreṣṭha nāstyanto vistarasya me ||10-19||

Krishna said, I'll share with you my divine powers, Arjuna, highlighting the most important ones, but there's no limit to describing them in detail.

10.20

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ||१०-२०||

ahamātmā guḍākeśa sarvabhūtāśayasthitaḥ . ahamādiśca madhyaṃ ca bhūtānāmanta eva ca ||10-20||

I am the essence of every being, Gudakesa, residing in their hearts, and I am the source, the sustainer, and the ultimate end of all beings.

10.21

आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् | मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ||१०-२१||

ādityānāmahaṃ viṣṇurjyotiṣāṃ raviraṃśumān . marīcirmarutāmasmi nakṣatrāṇāmahaṃ śaśī ||10-21||

Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu, and among the sources of light, I am the radiant sun. I am Marichi, the leader of the storm gods, and among the stars, I shine as the moon.

10.22

वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः | इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ||१०-२२||

vedānāṃ sāmavedo.asmi devānāmasmi vāsavaḥ . indriyāṇāṃ manaścāsmi bhūtānāmasmi cetanā ||10-22||

Among the Vedas, I am the Sama Veda, the sacred hymns that bring people together. I am Indra, the leader of the gods, and the driving force behind the natural world. Within all living beings, I am the mind that perceives and the consciousness that brings awareness.

10.23

रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् | वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ||१०-२३||

rudrāṇāṃ śaṅkaraścāsmi vitteśo yakṣarakṣasām . vasūnāṃ pāvakaścāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇāmaham ||10-23||

Among the powerful Rudras, I am Shankara, and among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am the lord of wealth. I am fire among the Vasus, and among the great mountains, I am Meru.

10.24

पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् | सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः ||१०-२४||

purodhasāṃ ca mukhyaṃ māṃ viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim . senānīnāmahaṃ skandaḥ sarasāmasmi sāgaraḥ ||10-24||

Among royal advisors, Arjuna, I am the foremost, Brihaspati, and of military leaders, I am Skanda, while among bodies of water, I am the vast ocean that they all flow into.

10.25

महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् | यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालयः ||१०-२५||

maharṣīṇāṃ bhṛgurahaṃ girāmasmyekamakṣaram . yajñānāṃ japayajño.asmi sthāvarāṇāṃ himālayaḥ ||10-25||

Among the greatest sages, I am Bhrigu, and of all words, I am the single syllable Om. I am the silent, repetitive prayer that is the essence of all sacrifices, and among all that is unchanging, I am the Himalayas.

10.26

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः | गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ||१०-२६||

aśvatthaḥ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ . gandharvāṇāṃ citrarathaḥ siddhānāṃ kapilo muniḥ ||10-26||

Among trees, I am the ashvattha, a symbol of strength and wisdom. Among divine sages, Narada stands out, and among the Gandharvas, Chitraratha is a notable figure. Among those who have achieved spiritual perfection, the sage Kapila is a shining example.

10.27

उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् | ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ||१०-२७||

uccaiḥśravasamaśvānāṃ viddhi māmamṛtodbhavam . airāvataṃ gajendrāṇāṃ narāṇāṃ ca narādhipam ||10-27||

Among horses, I am Ucchaisravas, the one born from the nectar of immortality. I am Airavata, the greatest of elephants, and among humans, I am the supreme ruler, the king of kings.

10.28

आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक् | प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः ||१०-२८||

āyudhānāmahaṃ vajraṃ dhenūnāmasmi kāmadhuk . prajanaścāsmi kandarpaḥ sarpāṇāmasmi vāsukiḥ ||10-28||

Among weapons, I am the powerful thunderbolt, and among cows, I am Kamadhenu, the one who fulfills all desires. I am the driving force behind creation and passion, and among serpents, I am the mighty Vasuki.

10.29

अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् | पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम् ||१०-२९||

anantaścāsmi nāgānāṃ varuṇo yādasāmaham . pitṝṇāmaryamā cāsmi yamaḥ saṃyamatāmaham ||10-29||

I am the limitless one among serpents, the lord of the ocean among aquatic beings, the revered ancestor among the fathers, and the enforcer of discipline among those who govern, Yama. Krishna is explaining to Arjuna his divine presence in various forms of life and elements of nature. He embodies the power of governance and discipline.

10.30

प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः कलयतामहम् | मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ||१०-३०||

prahlādaścāsmi daityānāṃ kālaḥ kalayatāmaham . mṛgāṇāṃ ca mṛgendro.ahaṃ vainateyaśca pakṣiṇām ||10-30||

I am Prahlada among the demons, and among those who keep track of time, I am time itself. Among wild animals, I am the lion, the king of the forest, and among birds, I am Garuda, the mighty Vainateya.

10.31

पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् | झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ||१०-३१||

pavanaḥ pavatāmasmi rāmaḥ śastrabhṛtāmaham . jhaṣāṇāṃ makaraścāsmi srotasāmasmi jāhnavī ||10-31||

Among all that purifies, I am the wind, and among warriors, I am Rama, the greatest of them all. Of all the fish in the ocean, I am the powerful shark, and of all the flowing rivers, I am the sacred Ganges, also known as Jahnavi.

10.32

सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन | अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः प्रवदतामहम् ||१०-३२||

sargāṇāmādirantaśca madhyaṃ caivāhamarjuna . adhyātmavidyā vidyānāṃ vādaḥ pravadatāmaham ||10-32||

I am the starting point, the middle, and the end of all creation, Arjuna. Among all fields of knowledge, I am the spiritual wisdom that reveals the deepest truths of our existence. I am also the voice of reason and discernment in the midst of debate and argument.

10.33

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च | अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुखः ||१०-३३||

akṣarāṇāmakāro.asmi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca . ahamevākṣayaḥ kālo dhātāhaṃ viśvatomukhaḥ ||10-33||

Among letters, I am the fundamental sound of "A", and in compound words, I am the connecting link. I am the endless, all-encompassing time, and I am the sustainer who faces every direction, omnipresent and all-pervading.

10.34

मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम् | कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा ||१०-३४||

mṛtyuḥ sarvaharaścāhamudbhavaśca bhaviṣyatām . kīrtiḥ śrīrvākca nārīṇāṃ smṛtirmedhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā ||10-34||

I am the force of death that takes everything, and the source of all future creation. Among feminine qualities, I embody fame, wealth, the power of speech, memory, intelligence, determination, and forgiveness.

10.35

बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् | मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः ||१०-३५||

bṛhatsāma tathā sāmnāṃ gāyatrī chandasāmaham . māsānāṃ mārgaśīrṣo.ahamṛtūnāṃ kusumākaraḥ ||10-35||

Among sacred hymns, I am the majestic Brihatsaman, and of poetic meters, I am the revered Gayatri. Of the twelve months, I am Margasirsha, and among the seasons, I am the vibrant spring, when flowers bloom.

10.36

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् | जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ||१०-३६||

dyūtaṃ chalayatāmasmi tejastejasvināmaham . jayo.asmi vyavasāyo.asmi sattvaṃ sattvavatāmaham ||10-36||

I am the cunning of cheaters, the brilliance of the brilliant, and the triumph of those who succeed. I am the drive that fuels the determined and the goodness that shines in people of strong character.

10.37

वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः | मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ||१०-३७||

vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo.asmi pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaḥ . munīnāmapyahaṃ vyāsaḥ kavīnāmuśanā kaviḥ ||10-37||

Among the Vrishnis, I am Krishna, and among the Pandavas, I am Arjuna. As for the sages, I am Vyasa, and among the poets, I am the sage Usanas.

10.38

दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् | मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ||१०-३८||

daṇḍo damayatāmasmi nītirasmi jigīṣatām . maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatāmaham ||10-38||

I am the authority that guides those who enforce discipline, the strategic thinking that drives those who strive for success, the discreet silence that keeps confidential matters hidden, and the profound understanding that characterizes the wise.

10.39

यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन | न तदस्ति विना यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम् ||१०-३९||

yaccāpi sarvabhūtānāṃ bījaṃ tadahamarjuna . na tadasti vinā yatsyānmayā bhūtaṃ carācaram ||10-39||

I am the source of all life, Arjuna, the essence that gives rise to every being. Nothing in existence, whether it moves or remains still, can survive without me. I am the fundamental reality that underlies all of creation, and everything depends on me for its existence.

10.40

नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परन्तप | एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ||१०-४०||

nānto.asti mama divyānāṃ vibhūtīnāṃ parantapa . eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto vibhūtervistaro mayā ||10-40||

My divine powers are endless, Arjuna, and what I've shared with you is just a glimpse of their vastness, a small sample of my infinite glory.

10.41

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा | तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसम्भवम् ||१०-४१||

yadyadvibhūtimatsattvaṃ śrīmadūrjitameva vā . tattadevāvagaccha tvaṃ mama tejoṃśasambhavam ||10-41||

Whatever is magnificent, prosperous, or powerful, know that it's a spark of my divine energy, a fragment of my splendour that's at work, shining through it.

10.42

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन | विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ||१०-४२||

athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna . viṣṭabhyāhamidaṃ kṛtsnamekāṃśena sthito jagat ||10-42||

What's the point of knowing all these details, Arjuna? I'm the one who sustains this entire world with just a fraction of my being.