BHAGAVAD GITA

Conversation 10. The Yoga of Manifestations

Table of Contents

Chapter 9 - Chapter 11


  • Krishna said:
    O Arjuna, listen once again
    To My supreme word that I shall speak to you,
    Who are dear, for your welfare.


  • Neither the Devas
    Nor the great sages know My origin,
    Because I am the origin of all Devas and sages also.


  • One who knows Me as the unborn,
    The beginningless, and the Supreme Lord of the universe,
    Is considered wise among the mortals,
    And gets liberation from the bondage of Karma.


  • Discrimination, knowledge, non-delusion,
    Forgiveness, truthfulness, control over the mind and senses,
    Pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness;


  • Nonviolence, equanimity, contentment,
    Austerity, charity, fame, and ill fame;
    All these diverse qualities in human beings
    Arise from Me alone.


  • The seven great sages and four ancient Manus,
    From whom all these creatures of the world were born,
    Originated from My potential energy.


  • One who truly understands
    My manifestations and yogic powers,
    Is united with Me in unswerving devotion.
    There is no doubt about this.


  • I am the origin of all.
    Everything emanates from Me.
    Understanding this, the wise ones worship Me
    With love and devotion.


  • With their minds absorbed in Me,
    With their lives surrendered unto Me,
    Always enlightening each other by talking about Me;
    They remain ever content and delighted.


  • I give the knowledge, to those
    Who are ever united with Me and lovingly adore Me,
    By which they come to Me.


  • Out of compassion for them I,
    Who dwell within their heart,
    Destroy the darkness born of ignorance
    By the shining lamp of knowledge.


  • Arjuna said:
    You are the Supreme Brahman,
    The supreme abode, the supreme purifier,
    The eternal divine spirit, the primal God,
    The unborn, and the omnipresent.


  • All sages have thus acclaimed You.
    The divine sage Narada, Asita,
    Devala, Vyaasa, and You Yourself tell me.


  • O Krishna, I believe
    All that You have told Me to be true. O Lord,
    Neither the Devas nor the demons
    Fully understand Your manifestations.


  • O Creator and Lord of all beings,
    God of all gods, Supreme person
    And Lord of the universe,
    You alone know Yourself by Yourself.


  • (Therefore), You alone are able
    To fully describe Your own divine glories,
    The manifestations, by which You exist
    Pervading all the universe.


  • How may I know You, O Lord,
    By constant contemplation? In what form
    Are You to be thought of by me, O Lord?


  • O Lord, explain to me again in detail,
    Your yogic power and glory;
    Because, I am not satiated
    By hearing Your nectar-like words.


  • Krishna said:
    O Arjuna, now I shall explain to you
    My prominent divine manifestations,
    Because My manifestations are endless.

  • O Arjuna, I am the Atma
    Abiding in the heart of all beings.
    I am also the beginning, the middle,
    and the end of all beings.


  • I am Vishnu among the sons of Aditi,
    I am the radiant sun among the luminaries,
    I am Marici among the gods of wind,
    I am the moon among the stars.


  • I am the Sama Veda among the Vedas;
    I am Indra among the Devas;
    I am the mind among the senses;
    I am the consciousness in living beings.


  • I am Shiva among the Rudras;
    Kubera among the Yakshas and demons;
    I am the fire among the Vasus;
    And I am Meru among the mountain peaks.


  • Among the priests, O Arjuna,
    Know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati.
    Among the army generals, I am Skanda;
    I am the ocean among the bodies of water.


  • I am Bhrigu among the great sages;
    I am the monosyllable OM among the words;
    I am Japa among the Yajna;
    And I am the Himalaya among the immovables.


  • I am the Peepal tree among the trees,
    Narada among the sages,
    Chitraaratha among the Gandharvas,
    And sage Kapila among the Siddhas.


  • Know Me as Uchchaihshrava,
    Born at the time of churning the ocean
    for getting the nectar, among the horses;
    Airaavata among the elephants;
    And the King among men.


  • I am thunderbolt among the weapons,
    Kaamadhenu among the cows,
    And the cupid among the procreators.
    Among the serpents, I am Vaasuki.


  • I am Sheshanaaga among the Naagas,
    I am Varuna among the water gods,
    And Aryamaa among the manes.
    I am Yama among the controllers.


  • I am Prahlaada among Diti's progeny,
    Time or death among the healers,
    Lion among the beasts,
    And the Garuda among birds.


  • I am the wind among the purifiers,
    And Lord Rama among the warriors.
    I am the shark among the fishes,
    And the Ganges among the rivers.


  • I am the beginning, the middle,
    And the end of the creation, O Arjuna.
    Among the knowledge I am knowledge of the supreme Self.
    I am logic of the logician.


  • I am the letter "A" among the alphabets,
    Among the compound words I am the dual compound,
    I am the endless time, I am the sustainer of all,
    And have faces on all sides.


  • I am the all-devouring death,
    And also the origin of future beings. Among the feminine nouns I am fame,
    Prosperity, speech, memory, intellect,
    Resolve, and forgiveness.


  • I am Brihatsaama among the hymns.
    I am Gaayatri among the mantras,
    I am Maargsirsha among the months,
    I am the spring among the seasons.


  • I am the fraud of the gambler;
    I am the splendor of the splendid;
    I am victory; I am resolution
    I am the goodness of the good.


  • I am Vaasudeva among the Vrishni,
    Arjuna among the Paandavas,
    Vyaasa among the sages,
    and Ushanaa among the poets.


  • I am the power of rulers,
    The statesmanship of the seekers of victory,
    I am silence among the secrets,
    And the Self-knowledge of the knowledgeable.


  • I am the origin or seed of all beings, O Arjuna.
    There is nothing, animate or inanimate,
    That can exist without Me.


  • There is no end of My divine manifestations, O Arjuna.
    This is only a brief description by Me
    of the extent of My divine manifestations.


  • Whatever is endowed with glory, brilliance, and power;
    Know that to be a manifestation
    Of a fraction of My splendor.


  • What is the need
    For this detailed knowledge, O Arjuna?
    I continually support the entire universe
    By a small fraction of My energy.

    This is the end of Chapter X of the Bhagavad Gita
    Entitled "Vibhuti-Yoga,"
    Or "The Yoga of Manifestations"