Where You Can See It

Chapter 10 · Verse 1

भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः ।यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया॥

Krishna said: Listen again, mighty-armed one, to my highest word. I will tell you this because you are dear to me, and because I want what is good for you.

Look at the reason he gives for speaking.

Chapter 10 · Verse 2

न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः।अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः॥

Neither the gods nor the great sages know my origin. I am the source of the gods and of the great sages, in every way.

Even the experts do not know.

Chapter 10 · Verse 3

यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम्।असम्मूढः स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥

Whoever knows me as unborn, without beginning, the great lord of the worlds - that person is undeluded among mortals, and is freed from every wrong.

One thing understood, and a whole set of errors goes with it.

Chapter 10 · Verse 4

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसंमोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः।सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च॥

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from confusion, patience, truthfulness, restraint of the senses and quiet of mind; pleasure and pain, coming into being and passing away, fear, and freedom from fear…

A list of qualities, and look at what is on it together.

Chapter 10 · Verse 5

अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः॥

Non-violence, evenness, contentment, discipline, giving, fame and disgrace - these different states of beings arise from me alone.

Fame and disgrace, named together, in the same breath, from the same source.

Chapter 10 · Verse 6

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा।मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः॥

The seven great sages of old, and the four Manus before them, came from my mind and were born of it. All the people in this world are descended from them.

A line of descent is being drawn, and the reader is at the end of it.

Chapter 10 · Verse 7

एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः।सोऽविकम्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशयः॥

Whoever truly knows this reach of mine and this power of joining is joined to me by an unshakeable practice. Of this there is no doubt.

Avikampena - without trembling.

Chapter 10 · Verse 8

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते।इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः॥

I am the origin of everything, and everything proceeds from me. Knowing this, the wise worship me, with their whole feeling in it.

Two halves: a claim, and what the claim does to a person.

Chapter 10 · Verse 9

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम्।कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च॥

With their minds on me and their lives given over to me, they wake each other up, and speak of me constantly - and they are content, and they take delight in it.

The last two words are the surprising ones.

Chapter 10 · Verse 10

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम्।ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते॥

To those who are always joined to me, who worship me with love, I give the clarity of mind by which they come to me.

Notice the order.

Chapter 10 · Verse 11

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः।नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता॥

Out of compassion for them alone, standing within their own being, I destroy the darkness born of not knowing, with the shining lamp of knowledge.

Two details are doing the work.

Chapter 10 · Verse 12

परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान्।पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम्॥

Arjuna said: You are the supreme Brahman, the highest home, the purest thing there is. You are the eternal divine person, the first of the gods, unborn, present everywhere.

Arjuna answers, and what comes out is not a question.

Chapter 10 · Verse 13

आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा।असितो देवलो व्यासः स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे॥

All the sages say this of you - the divine seer Nārada, and Asita, Devala, Vyāsa. And now you are telling me so yourself.

Arjuna lists his sources, by name.

Chapter 10 · Verse 14

सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव ।न हि ते भगवन्व्यक्तिं विदुर्देवा न दानवाः॥

I accept all of this as true, Krishna, everything you have told me. Neither the gods nor the demons know how you show yourself, Lord.

He says plainly that he accepts it, and in the same breath says that nobody understands it.

Chapter 10 · Verse 15

स्वयमेवात्मनाऽत्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम।भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते॥

You alone know yourself, by yourself, highest person - you who bring beings into being, lord of beings, god of gods, lord of the world.

Svayam evātmanātmānaṃ vettha - you yourself, by yourself, know yourself.

Chapter 10 · Verse 16

वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः।याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि॥

Please describe your divine glories completely - the forms through which you pervade these worlds and stand in them.

Arjuna asks for the list that makes up the rest of the chapter.

Chapter 10 · Verse 17

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन्।केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया॥

How shall I come to know you, Krishna, by thinking of you always? In which forms should I hold you in my mind?

The practical question, finally asked outright.

Chapter 10 · Verse 18

विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन ।भूयः कथय तृप्तिर्हि शृण्वतो नास्ति मेऽमृतम्॥

Tell me again, in detail, your power and your glories, Krishna. I am not finished listening to this - there is no end to it for me.

He has already been told.

Chapter 10 · Verse 19

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः।प्राधान्यतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे॥

Krishna said: Yes. I will tell you my divine glories - the chief ones only, best of the Kurus. There is no end to the full extent of me.

Hanta - an exclamation, something like: right, then.

Chapter 10 · Verse 20

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः।अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च॥

I am the self seated in the heart of all beings, Arjuna. I am the beginning of beings, and their middle, and their end.

Before the list of external things begins, this.

Chapter 10 · Verse 21

आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्।मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी॥

Among the sons of Aditi I am Viṣṇu. Among lights, the sun with its rays. Among the winds I am Marīci, and among the stars, the moon.

The list begins with the obvious ones.

Chapter 10 · Verse 22

वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः।इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना॥

Among the Vedas I am the Sāma Veda. Among the gods, Indra. Among the senses I am the mind - and in living beings, I am consciousness.

Three expected answers, and then the fourth.

Chapter 10 · Verse 23

रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम्।वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम्॥

Among the Rudras I am Śiva. Among the spirits of wealth, Kubera. Among the Vasus I am fire - and among mountains, Meru.

Four more, and one of them is odd company for the others.

Chapter 10 · Verse 24

पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम्।सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः॥

Among household priests know me, Arjuna, as the chief of them, Bṛhaspati. Among commanders I am Skanda. Among waters, the ocean.

Three roles, three chiefs.

Chapter 10 · Verse 25

महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम्।यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालयः॥

Among the great sages I am Bhṛgu. Among utterances I am the one syllable, Om. Among offerings I am the offering of repetition - and among things that do not move, the Himalaya.

One item here is unlike the others, and it is not the mountain.

Chapter 10 · Verse 26

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः।गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः॥

Among all trees I am the aśvattha. Among the divine sages, Nārada. Among the gandharvas, Citraratha - and among those who are perfected, the sage Kapila.

The fig tree first, and it is a deliberate choice.

Chapter 10 · Verse 27

उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम्।ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम्॥

Among horses know me as Uccaiḥśravas, born when the ocean was churned for nectar. Among lordly elephants, Airāvata - and among men, the king.

Three items, and all three are about status.

Chapter 10 · Verse 28

आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक्।प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः॥

Among weapons I am the thunderbolt. Among cows, the one that grants wishes. I am the god of love, by whom beings are begotten - and among serpents, Vāsuki.

Kandarpa - desire itself, the god of love.

Chapter 10 · Verse 29

अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् ।पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम्॥

Among the great serpents I am Ananta. Among water creatures, Varuṇa. Among the ancestors I am Aryaman - and among those who keep order, I am Yama.

The last name on this list is the one people flinch at.

Chapter 10 · Verse 30

प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः कलयतामहम्।मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम्॥

Among the demons I am Prahlāda. Among reckoners I am time. Among animals I am the lion - and among birds, Garuḍa.

The first name is the interesting one.

Chapter 10 · Verse 31

पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम्।झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी॥

Among things that cleanse I am the wind. Among those who bear weapons, Rāma. Among fish I am the makara - and among flowing rivers, the Ganges.

Wind as the thing that cleanses, named first.

Chapter 10 · Verse 32

सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन।अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः प्रवदतामहम्॥

Of all creations I am the beginning, the middle and the end, Arjuna. Among forms of knowledge I am knowledge of the self - and among those who argue, I am the argument itself.

Three parts, and the last is strange.

Chapter 10 · Verse 33

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च।अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताऽहं विश्वतोमुखः॥

Among letters I am the letter A. Among compound words, the kind that joins two equals. I am time that never runs out, and the maker whose faces look in every direction.

The letter A.

Chapter 10 · Verse 34

मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम्।कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा॥

I am the ending that carries all away, and the origin of what is yet to come. Among the qualities called feminine I am fame, prosperity, fine speech, memory, intelligence, firmness and patience.

Both ends again, in one line, as in Chapter 9.

Chapter 10 · Verse 35

बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम्।मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः॥

Among the hymns I am the Bṛhat-sāman. Among poetic metres, the Gāyatrī. Among the months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, and among the seasons, the flowering one.

Two of these are about time, and about how people feel in it.

Chapter 10 · Verse 36

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्।जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम्॥

I am the gambling of those who cheat. I am the splendour of the splendid. I am victory, I am resolve, and I am the goodness of the good.

Read the first clause again.

Chapter 10 · Verse 37

वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनंजयः।मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः॥

Among the Vṛṣṇis I am Krishna. Among the sons of Pāṇḍu, Arjuna. Among the sages I am Vyāsa - and among those who see clearly, the poet Uśanā.

He names himself, which is expected.

Chapter 10 · Verse 38

दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम्।मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम्॥

Among ways of restraining I am the rod. Among those who seek to win, I am good judgement. Among secrets I am silence - and in the wise, I am wisdom.

Maunam - silence, named as the chief of secrets.

Chapter 10 · Verse 39

यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन।न तदस्ति विना यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम्॥

And whatever is the seed of all beings, Arjuna, that too is me. Nothing that moves or stands still could exist without me.

The list stops and the general rule is stated.

Chapter 10 · Verse 40

नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परंतप।एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया॥

There is no end to my divine manifestations, conqueror of enemies. What I have said is one portion of the extent of my glories, declared to give you an idea of it.

He says plainly that the list was a sample.

Chapter 10 · Verse 41

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा।तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसंभवम्॥

Whatever exists that is glorious, or beautiful, or strong - know that it comes from a fragment of my splendour.

Here is the rule the whole list was teaching.

Chapter 10 · Verse 42

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन।विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत्॥

But what need have you of all this detail, Arjuna? I stand supporting this whole world with a single fragment of myself.

The last line of the chapter takes the chapter back.