Chapter 10: Vibhūti-yoga / Verse 4

In enumerating the divine powers and potentials, Krishna significantly begins with human sentient qualities, not with material properties of the visible world. This amply alludes to the roots of the gross creation, which are in the invisible ken. The subtle engenders the gross, not the other way round.

Intelligence, Krishna lists first, is the greatest potential in creation. It graces the human most. In any work, including creation, the fundamental role is that of buddhi. Ideas constituting knowledge emerge from intelligence. Krishna then lists other mento-intellectual qualities like non-delusion, patience and forbearance.

He then brings happiness and unhappiness, the experiential foundation of our life. Existence and non-existence are absolute concepts like presence and absence. Fear and fearlessness are a set of emotional dvandvas. Material creation our senses perceive comes next.

Goodness, love, kindness and sacrifice are the real embellishments for human life any time. Equally so, contentment is the sole possession to fulfil human mind and heart. It is neither external nor the least distant from anyone.

As your Self is already blissful, do not look for anything external at all to be joyous and full. However, one has to inculcate qualities leading to inner enquiry, to be an heir to lasting contentment.

Inner felicity is what the human any time should yearn for to make his life effective, successful and glorious. In attaining this, what will help is not the fleeting external acquisitions, but the personal restraints and inner enrichment. Spiritual refinement can amply bestow these inner virtues and excellences. Inner embellishment is far more desirable and valuable than external glamour or glories any time anywhere!