CHAPTER TEN

The Opulence of the Absolute

TEXT 1
श्रीभगवानुवाच
भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वच: ।
यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामम महतकाम्यया ॥ १ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
bhūya eva mahā-bāho
śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ
yat te ’haṁ prīyamāṇāya
vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Listen again, O mighty-armed
Arjuna. Because you are My dear friend, for your benefit I shall speak to
you further, giving knowledge that is better than what I have already
explained.
TEXT 2
न मे मवदु : सुरगणा: प्रभवं न महर्ष य: ।
अहमामदमहष दे वानां महर्ीणां च सवषश: ॥ २ ॥
na me viduḥ sura-gaṇāḥ
prabhavaṁ na maharṣayaḥ
aham ādir hi devānāṁ
maharṣīṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ
Translation
Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin or
opulences, for, in every respect, I am the source of the demigods and sages.
 TEXT 3
यो मामजमनामदं च वेमत्त लोकमहे श्वरम् ।
असम्मूढ: स मर्त्येर्ु सवषपापै: प्रमुच्यते ॥ ३ ॥
yo mām ajam anādiṁ ca
vetti loka-maheśvaram
asammūḍhaḥ sa martyeṣu
sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate
Translation
He who knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme
Lord of all the worlds – he only, undeluded among men, is freed from all
sins.
TEXTS 4-5
बुद्धिर्ज्ाष नमसम्मोह: क्षमा सर्त्यं दम: शम: ।
सुखं दु :खं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ॥ ४ ॥
अमहं सा समता तुमिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयश: ।
भवद्धि भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पथद्धिधा: ॥ ५ ॥
buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ
kṣamā satyaṁ damaḥ śamaḥ
sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhavo ’bhāvo
bhayaṁ cābhayam eva ca
ahiṁsā samatā tuṣṭis
tapo dānaṁ yaśo ’yaśaḥ
bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṁ
matta eva pṛthag-vidhāḥ
Translation
Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness,
truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and
distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity,
satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy – all these various
qualities of living beings are created by Me alone.
 TEXT 6
महर्ष य: सप्त पूवे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा ।
मद्भृावा मानसा जाता येर्ां लोक इमा: प्रजा: ॥ ६ ॥
maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve
catvāro manavas tathā
mad-bhāvā mānasā jātā
yeṣāṁ loka imāḥ prajāḥ
Translation
The seven great sages and before them the four other great sages and the
Manus [progenitors of mankind] come from Me, born from My mind, and
all the living beings populating the various planets descend from them.
TEXT 7
एतां मवभूमतं योगं च मम यो वेमत्त तत्त्वत: ।
सोऽमवकल्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशय: ॥ ७ ॥
etāṁ vibhūtiṁ yogaṁ ca
mama yo vetti tattvataḥ
so ’vikalpena yogena
yujyate nātra saṁśayaḥ
Translation
One who is factually convinced of this opulence and mystic power of Mine
engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt.
TEXT 8
अहं सवषस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सवं प्रवतषते ।
इमत मत्वा भजिे मां बुधा भावसमद्धिता: ॥ ८ ॥
ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ
 Translation
I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates
from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional
service and worship Me with all their hearts.
TEXT 9
मच्चमृत्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयि: परस्परम् ।
कथयिश्च मां मनर्त्यं तुष्यद्धि च रमद्धि च ॥ ९ ॥
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca
Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted
to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always
enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
TEXT 10
तेर्ां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीमतपूवषकम् ।
ददामम बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयाद्धि ते ॥ १० ॥
teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te
Translation
To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the
understanding by which they can come to Me.
 TEXT 11
तेर्ामेवानुकम्पाथषमहमर्ज्ानजं तम: ।
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो र्ज्ानदीपेन भास्वता ॥ ११ ॥
teṣām evānukampārtham
aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho
jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā
Translation
To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the
shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.
TEXTS 12-13
अजुषन उवाच
परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पमवत्रं परमं भवान् ।
पुरुर्ं शाश्वतं मदव्यमामददे वमजं मवभुम् ॥ १२ ॥
आहुस्त्वामर्य: सवे दे वमर्ष नाष रदस्तथा ।
अमसतो दे वलो व्यास: स्वयं चैव ब्रवीमर् मे ॥ १३ ॥
arjuna uvāca
paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma
pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān
puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam
ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum
āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarve
devarṣir nāradas tathā
asito devalo vyāsaḥ
svayaṁ caiva bravīṣi me
Translation
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate
abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal,
transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great
sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about
You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.
 TEXT 14
सवषमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्ां वदमस केशव ।
न मह ते भगवन्व्व्यद्धक्तं मवदु देवा न दानवा: ॥ १४ ॥
sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye
yan māṁ vadasi keśava
na hi te bhagavan vyaktiṁ
vidur devā na dānavāḥ
Translation
O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the
demigods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality.
TEXT 15
स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुर्ोत्तम ।
भूतभावन भूतेश दे वदे व जगत्पते ॥ १५ ॥
svayam evātmanātmānaṁ
vettha tvaṁ puruṣottama
bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa
deva-deva jagat-pate
Translation
Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own internal potency, O
Supreme Person, origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, Lord of the
universe!
TEXT 16
वक्तुमहष स्यशेर्ेण मदव्या ह्यात्ममवभूतय: ।
यामभमवषभूमतमभलोकामनमां स्त्वं व्याप्य मतष्ठमस ॥ १६ ॥
vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa
divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ
yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān
imāṁs tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi
Translation
Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulences by which You pervade all
these worlds.
 TEXT 17
कथं मवद्यामहं योमगंस्त्वां सदा पररमचियन् ।
केर्ु केर्ु च भावेर्ु मचन्त्योऽमस भगवन्या ॥ १७ ॥
kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogiṁs
tvāṁ sadā paricintayan
keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu
cintyo ’si bhagavan mayā
Translation
O Kṛṣṇa, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how
shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O
Supreme Personality of Godhead?
TEXT 18
मवस्तरे णात्मनो योगं मवभूमतं च जनादष न ।
भूय: कथय तप्मतमहष शृण्वतो नाद्धस्त मेऽमतम् ॥ १८ ॥
vistareṇātmano yogaṁ
vibhūtiṁ ca janārdana
bhūyaḥ kathaya tṛptir hi
śṛṇvato nāsti me ’mṛtam
Translation
O Janārdana, again please describe in detail the mystic power of Your
opulences. I am never satiated in hearing about You, for the more I hear
the more I want to taste the nectar of Your words.
TEXT 19
श्रीभगवानुवाच
हि ते कथमयष्यामम मदव्या ह्यात्ममवभूतय: ।
प्राधान्यत: कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यिो मवस्तरस्य मे ॥ १९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi
divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ
prādhānyataḥ kuru-śreṣṭha
nāsty anto vistarasya me
 Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Yes, I will tell you of My
splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are prominent, O
Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless.
TEXT 20
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सवषभूताशयद्धस्थत: ।
अहमामदश्च मध्यं च भूतानामि एव च ॥ २० ॥
aham ātmā guḍākeśa
sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ
aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca
bhūtānām anta eva ca
Translation
I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I
am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.
TEXT 21
आमदर्त्यानामहं मवष्णुज्योमतर्ां रमवरं शृु मान् ।
मरीमचमषरुतामद्धि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥ २१ ॥
ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇur
jyotiṣāṁ ravir aṁśumān
marīcir marutām asmi
nakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī
Translation
Of the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I
am Marīci, and among the stars I am the moon.
TEXT 22
वेदानां सामवेदोऽद्धि दे वानामद्धि वासव: ।
इद्धियाणां मनश्चाद्धि भूतानामद्धि चेतना ॥ २२ ॥
vedānāṁ sāma-vedo ’smi
devānām asmi vāsavaḥ
indriyāṇāṁ manaś cāsmi
bhūtānām asmi cetanā
 Translation
Of the Vedas I am the Sāma Veda; of the demigods I am Indra, the king
of heaven; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living
force [consciousness].
TEXT 23
रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चाद्धि मवत्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् ।
वसूनां पावकश्चाद्धि मेरु: मशखररणामहम् ॥ २३ ॥
rudrāṇāṁ śaṅkaraś cāsmi
vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām
vasūnāṁ pāvakaś cāsmi
meruḥ śikhariṇām aham
Translation
Of all the Rudras I am Lord Śiva, of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the
Lord of wealth [Kuvera], of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains
I am Meru.
TEXT 24
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां मवद्धि पाथष बहस्पमतम् ।
सेनानीनामहं स्कन्द: सरसामद्धि सागर: ॥ २४ ॥
purodhasāṁ ca mukhyaṁ māṁ
viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim
senānīnām ahaṁ skandaḥ
sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ
Translation
Of priests, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Bṛhaspati. Of generals I
am Kārttikeya, and of bodies of water I am the ocean.
 TEXT 25
महर्ीणां भगुरहं मगरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् ।
यर्ज्ानां जपयर्ज्ोऽद्धि स्थावराणां महमालय: ॥ २५ ॥
maharṣīṇāṁ bhṛgur ahaṁ
girām asmy ekam akṣaram
yajñānāṁ japa-yajño ’smi
sthāvarāṇāṁ himālayaḥ
Translation
Of the great sages I am Bhṛgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental oṁ.
Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable
things I am the Himālayas.
TEXT 26
अश्वत्थ: सवषवक्षाणां दे वर्ीणां च नारद: ।
गन्धवाष णां मचत्ररथ: मसिानां कमपलो मुमन: ॥ २६ ॥
aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṁ
devarṣīṇāṁ ca nāradaḥ
gandharvāṇāṁ citrarathaḥ
siddhānāṁ kapilo muniḥ
Translation
Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I
am Nārada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected
beings I am the sage Kapila.
TEXT 27
उच्चैैःश्रवसमश्वानां मवद्धि माममतोद्भवम् ।
ऐरावतं गजेिाणां नराणां च नरामधपम् ॥ २७ ॥
uccaiḥśravasam aśvānāṁ
viddhi mām amṛtodbhavam
airāvataṁ gajendrāṇāṁ
narāṇāṁ ca narādhipam
 Translation
Of horses know Me to be Uccaiḥśravā, produced during the churning of
the ocean for nectar. Of lordly elephants I am Airāvata, and among men
I am the monarch.
TEXT 28
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धे नूनामद्धि कामधु क् ।
प्रजनश्चाद्धि कन्दपष: सपाष णामद्धि वासुमक: ॥ २८ ॥
āyudhānām ahaṁ vajraṁ
dhenūnām asmi kāma-dhuk
prajanaś cāsmi kandarpaḥ
sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ
Translation
Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am the surabhi. Of causes
for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love, and of serpents I am
Vāsuki.
TEXT 29
अनिश्चाद्धि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् ।
मपतॄणामयषमा चाद्धि यम: संयमतामहम् ॥ २९ ॥
anantaś cāsmi nāgānāṁ
varuṇo yādasām aham
pitṝṇām aryamā cāsmi
yamaḥ saṁyamatām aham
Translation
Of the many-hooded Nāgas I am Ananta, and among the aquatics I am
the demigod Varuṇa. Of departed ancestors I am Aryamā, and among the
dispensers of law I am Yama, the lord of death.
 TEXT 30
प्रह्लादश्चाद्धि दै र्त्यानां काल: कलयतामहम् ।
मगाणां च मगेिोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पमक्षणाम् ॥ ३० ॥
prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāṁ
kālaḥ kalayatām aham
mṛgāṇāṁ ca mṛgendro ’haṁ
vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām
Translation
Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlāda, among subduers I
am time, among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuḍa.
TEXT 31
पवन: पवतामद्धि राम: शस्त्रभतामहम् ।
झर्ाणां मकरश्चाद्धि स्रोतसामद्धि जाह्नवी ॥ ३१ ॥
pavanaḥ pavatām asmi
rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām aham
jhaṣāṇāṁ makaraś cāsmi
srotasām asmi jāhnavī
Translation
Of purifiers I am the wind, of the wielders of weapons I am Rāma, of fishes
I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.
TEXT 32
सगाष णामामदरिश्च मध्यं चैवाहमजुषन ।
अध्यात्ममवद्या मवद्यानां वाद: प्रवदतामहम् ॥ ३२ ॥
sargāṇām ādir antaś ca
madhyaṁ caivāham arjuna
adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāṁ
vādaḥ pravadatām aham
Translation
Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O
Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self, and among
logicians I am the conclusive truth.
 TEXT 33
अक्षराणामकारोऽद्धि द्वन्व्द्व: सामामसकस्य च ।
अहमेवाक्षय: कालो धाताहं मवश्वतोमुख: ॥ ३३ ॥
akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
aham evākṣayaḥ kālo
dhātāhaṁ viśvato-mukhaḥ
Translation
Of letters I am the letter A, and among compound words I am the dual
compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahmā.
TEXT 34
मर्त्यु: सवषहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भमवष्यताम् ।
कीमतष: श्रीवाष क्च नारीणां िमतमेधा धमत: क्षमा ॥ ३४ ॥
mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham
udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām
kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāṁ
smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā
Translation
I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is
yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory,
intelligence, steadfastness and patience.
TEXT 35
बहत्साम तथा साम्नृाृं गायत्री छन्दसामहम् ।
मासानां मागषशीर्ोऽहमतूनां कुसुमाकर: ॥ ३५ ॥
bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ
gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo ’ham
ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ
 Translation
Of the hymns in the Sāma Veda I am the Bṛhat-sāma, and of poetry I am
the Gāyatrī. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa [November-December], and of
seasons I am flower-bearing spring.
TEXT 36
द् यूतं छलयतामद्धि तेजस्तेजद्धस्वनामहम् ।
जयोऽद्धि व्यवसायोऽद्धि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥ ३६ ॥
dyūtaṁ chalayatām asmi
tejas tejasvinām aham
jayo ’smi vyavasāyo ’smi
sattvaṁ sattvavatām aham
Translation
I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I
am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong.
TEXT 37
वष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽद्धि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जय: ।
मुनीनामप्यहं व्यास: कवीनामुशना कमव: ॥ ३७ ॥
vṛṣṇīnāṁ vāsudevo ’smi
pāṇḍavānāṁ dhanañ-jayaḥ
munīnām apy ahaṁ vyāsaḥ
kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ
Translation
Of the descendants of Vṛṣṇi I am Vāsudeva, and of the Pāṇḍavas I am
Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyāsa, and among great thinkers I am Uśanā.
TEXT 38
दण्डो दमयतामद्धि नीमतरद्धि मजगीर्ताम् ।
मौनं चैवाद्धि गुह्यानां र्ज्ानं र्ज्ानवतामहम् ॥ ३८ ॥
daṇḍo damayatām asmi
nītir asmi jigīṣatām
maunaṁ caivāsmi guhyānāṁ
jñānaṁ jñānavatām aham
 Translation
Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment, and of
those who seek victory I am morality. Of secret things I am silence, and of
the wise I am the wisdom.
TEXT 39
यच्चृामप सवषभूतानां बीजं तदहमजुषन ।
न तदद्धस्त मवना यत्स्यान्या भूतं चराचरम् ॥ ३९ ॥
yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāṁ
bījaṁ tad aham arjuna
na tad asti vinā yat syān
mayā bhūtaṁ carācaram
Translation
Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There
is no being – moving or nonmoving – that can exist without Me.
TEXT 40
नािोऽद्धस्त मम मदव्यानां मवभूतीनां परिप ।
एर् तूद्देशत: प्रोक्तो मवभूतेमवषस्तरो मया ॥ ४० ॥
nānto ’sti mama divyānāṁ
vibhūtīnāṁ paran-tapa
eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto
vibhūter vistaro mayā
Translation
O mighty conqueror of enemies, there is no end to My divine
manifestations. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My
infinite opulences.
 TEXT 41
यद्यमद्वभूमतमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदू मजषतमेव वा ।
तत्तदे वावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोऽशसम्भवम् ॥ ४१ ॥
yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ
mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam
Translation
Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a
spark of My splendor.
TEXT 42
अथवा बहुनैतेन मकं र्ज्ातेन तवाजुषन ।
मविभ्याहममदं कत्स्नमेकां शेन द्धस्थतो जगत् ॥ ४२ ॥
atha vā bahunaitena
kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat
Translation
But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a
single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.