Chapter 10: Vibhūti-yoga: – Comprehending the Divine through Its Glories

In this chapter, the devotee or seeker is led to a universal dimension reigning within the human. That the individual is universal too, the microcosm is the macrocosm as well, is a fundamental principle in Creation. 

Worship is an attitude and expression of the mind whereby the seeker’s mind reflects constantly on the Supreme’s greatness and qualities. It is not related to any object entity. The devotee feels that the Supreme is the source of everything, including himself. He also thinks that all things in and around him are active solely due to the power of the Supreme.

To enable Arjuna’s mind to think of the Supreme in all fullness and comprehensiveness, he begins to refer to Its special glories, excellences, and greatness. In listing the glories, Krishna has included the good, benign, and lofty manifestations as well as the opposites. He does not exempt any aspect of Creation. These elucidations help a seeker to reflect upon the Supreme in all its aspects.

The Supreme alone is the genesis, the seed of all beings. The seeker is made to understand that the supreme is in the whole Creation, including his own thoughts, attitudes, feelings, and memories. Krishna says that there is no end to the creative power of the Supreme. Whatever he lists is only nominal and suggestive of the infinite glories reigning all around.

To have the transcendental vision to see all as equally divine is not easy. But everyone can perceive divinity in a few items that attract their mind. The idea growing deeper, the mind will become purer and wholesome, to see the Supreme in all, leading the seeker to inner fullness and transcendence.

श्रीभगवानुवाच।

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

śrī bhagavān-uvāca

bhūya eva mahābāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vaca:
yat-te’haṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā – 10.1

Lord Krishna said: Listen again, O Arjuna (Mahābāhu), my ultimate words. I tell you these, because I am fond of you and desirous of your welfare.

न मे विदु:सुरगणा:प्रभवं न महर्षय:।
अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वश:॥

na me vidu: sura-gaṇā: prabhavaṃ na maharṣaya:
aham-ādir-hi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśa: – 10.2

Neither the host of gods nor the Maharshis (ascetic Seers) know My origin. I am, in all ways, the source of all gods as well as the ascetic Seers.

यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम् ।
असम्मूढ:स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापै:प्रमुच्यते ॥

yo mām-ajam-anādiṃ ca vetti loka-maheśvaram
asammūḍha: sa martyeṣu sarva-pāpai: pramucyate – 10.3

Whoever knows Me, the supreme Reality, as unborn and beginningless, and also as the very Lord of the Universe, he, among the humans, becomes free of all delusion, and gets freed of all blemishes.

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसंमोह: क्षमा सत्यं दम: शम:।
सुखं दु:खं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ॥

buddhir-jñānam-asammoha: kṣamā satyaṃ dama: śama:
sukhaṃ du:khaṃ bhavo’bhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayameva ca – 10.4

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, tolerance, truthfulness, sensory restraint, calmness of mind, happiness, unhappiness, existence, non-existence, fear as well as fearlessness; non-hurting, equality, contentment, austerity, charitable acts, fame, ill-fame – all these are various expressions in humans arising from Me (the Supreme) alone.

अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयश:।
भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधा:॥

ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭis-tapo dānaṃ yaśo’yaśa:
bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthag-vidhā: – 10.5

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, tolerance, truthfulness, sensory restraint, calmness of mind, happiness, unhappiness, existence, non-existence, fear as well as fearlessness; non-hurting, equality, contentment, austerity, charitable acts, fame, ill-fame – all these are various expressions in humans arising from Me (the Supreme) alone.

महर्षय: सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा ।
मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमा: प्रजा:॥

maharṣaya: sapta pūrve catvāro manavas-tathā
mad-bhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṃ loka imā: prajā: – 10.6

The seven Rishis of ancient origin and the four Manus, from whom have emanated all these people in the world, are born of My mind.

एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वत:।
सोऽविकम्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशय:॥

etāṃ vibhūtiṃ yogaṃ ca mama yo vetti tattvata:
so’vikampena yogena yujyate nātra saṃśaya: – 10.7

Whoever knows My this divine manifestation and the yoga (yogic power and transcendence) in their essential truth, he gets established in his true being through unswerving yoga; no doubt.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सर्वं प्रवर्तते ।
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विता:॥

ahaṃ sarvasya prabhavo matta: sarvaṃ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṃ budhā bhāva-samanvitā: – 10.8

I, the Supreme, am the source of everything; from Me alone all are activated. Knowing thus, the wise people worship Me with all their feelings and emotions.

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्त: परस्परम् ।
कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ॥

maccittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayanta: parasparam
kathayantaś-ca māṃ nityaṃ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca – 10.9

With their minds engrossed in Me (the Supreme), life resigned to Me, enlightening one another and speaking variously about Me, they (the devotees) are ever contented and joyful.

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

teṣāṃ satata-yuktānāṃ bhajatāṃ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṃ taṃ yena mām-upayānti te – 10.10

To those who constantly worship Me (the Supreme) with fondness, I bestow buddhi-yoga, by dint of which they attain Me (the Supreme).

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तम:।
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥

teṣām-evānukampārtham-aham-ajñānajaṃ tama:
nāśayāmy-ātma-bhāvastho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā – 10.11

Out of compassion for them, remaining as their very Self, I (the Supreme) destroy the darkness of ignorance, by means of the effulgent lamp of wisdom.

अर्जुन उवाच ।

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

arjuna uvāca

paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān
puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyam-ādidevam-ajaṃ vibhum – 10.12

Arjuna said: You are the supreme Reality, the supreme Abode, the pure and Ultimate, eternal Puruṣa, resplendent, premier of gods, unborn and all-pervading.

आहुस्त्वामृषय: सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा ।
असितो देवलो व्यास: स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ॥

āhus-tvām-ṛṣaya: sarve devarṣir-nāradas-tathā
asito devalo vyāsa: svayaṃ caiva bravīṣi me – 10.13

All Rishis as well as Devarshi Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa speak of You in the same manner. You also state that this is so.

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

sarvam-etad-ṛtaṃ manye yan-māṃ vadasi keśava
na hi te bhagavan-vyaktiṃ vidur-devā na dānavā: – 10.14

I do consider all You have told me as true, O Keshava. Neither the angels nor the demons know Your being, O Lord.

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम ।
भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥

svayam-evātmanātmānaṃ vettha tvaṃ puruṣottama
bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa deva-deva jagat-pate – 10.15

O supreme Purusha (dweller in the body), You alone know Yourself by dint of Yourself. You are the source of all beings, the Lord of all creation, God of gods, Ruler of the entire world.

वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतय:।
याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥

vaktum-arhasy-aśeṣeṇa divyā hy-ātma-vibhūtaya:
yābhir-vibhūtibhir-lokān-imāṃs-tvaṃ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi – 10.16

You owe to state in full the divine glories of the Self, by virtue of which You exist pervading all these worlds.

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

kathaṃ vidyām-ahaṃ yogiṃs-tvāṃ sadā paricintayan
keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo’si bhagavan-mayā – 10.17

How shall I know You, O Yogin, by constantly thinking about You? In what all forms of manifestation, O Lord, are You to be contemplated upon by me?

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

vistareṇātmano yogaṃ vibhūtiṃ ca janārdana
bhūya: kathaya tṛptir-hi śṛṇvato nāsti me’mṛtam – 10.18

Narrate, O Janardana (Krishna), in detail again about Yoga, Your inscrutable power, and its manifest glory. I do not feel satisfied by listening to Your nectarine words.

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतय: ।
प्राधान्यत:कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे ॥

śrī bhagavān-uvāca

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi divyā hy-ātma-vibhūtaya:
prādhānyata: kuru-śreṣṭha nāsty-anto vistarasya me – 10.19

Lord Krishna said: Ah, I shall tell you about some prominent divine attributes of the Self, the Supreme. O best among the Kurus (Arjuna), there is no end to my vast manifoldness.

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: ।
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥

aham-ātmā guḍākeśa sarva-bhūtāśayasthita:
aham-ādiśca madhyaṃ ca bhūtānām-anta eva ca – 10.20

O Conqueror of sleep (Arjuna), I am the Self seated in the core of the very ideational process of all beings. I am the beginning, middle and also the end of all beings.

आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् ।
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥

ādityānām-ahaṃ viṣṇur-jyotiṣāṃ ravir-aṃśumān
marīcir-marutām-asmi nakṣatrāṇām-ahaṃ śaśī – 10.21

Of all Adityas, I (the Supreme) am Viṣṇu; of the luminaries, the Sun; of the Maruts (winds), the wind-god Mareechi; of all the Nakshatras (asterisms), the moon.

वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासव:।
इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ॥

vedānāṃ sāmavedo’smi devānāmasmi vāsava:
indriyāṇāṃ manaścāsmi bhūtānām-asmi cetanā – 10.22

Among the Vedas, I (the Supreme) am Sāma-veda; among the gods, I am Vāsava (Indra). Of the senses, I am mind (the sixth sense). In all the living beings, I am Consciousness (making everyone conscious of himself as well as others).

रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् ।
वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरु: शिखरिणामहम् ॥

rudrāṇāṃ śaṅkaraścāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām
vasūnāṃ pāvakaścāsmi meru: śikhariṇām-aham – 10.23

I (the Supreme) am Shankara (Shiva) among the Rudras. Of Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am Kubera (lord of wealth). Of the Vasus I am Pāvaka (fire), and amidst mountains with illustrious peaks, I am Meru.

पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृृहस्पतिम् ।
सेनानीनामहं स्कन्द:सरसामस्मि सागर: ॥

purodhasāṃ ca mukhyaṃ māṃ viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim
senānīnām-ahaṃ skanda: sarasām-asmi sāgara: – 10.24

O Partha, of all the priests, know Me (the Supreme) to be Brihaspati, the Chief. Of all army generals I am Skanda (Kartikeya). Of all collections of water, I am the ocean.

महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् ।
यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालय:॥

maharṣīṇāṃ bhṛgur-ahaṃ girām-asmy-ekam-akṣaram
yajñānāṃ japa-yajño’smi sthāvarāṇāṃ himālaya: – 10.25

Of all Sages, I (the Supreme) am Bhrigu. Of all words, I am the single letter called OM. Of various Yajñas (sacrifices), I am japa-yajña (repetition of sacred words). Among the immovables, I am Himalayas.

अश्वत्थ:सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारद:।
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथ:सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनि:॥

aśvattha: sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca nārada:
gandharvāṇāṃ citraratha: siddhānāṃ kapilo muni: – 10.26

Of all trees, I (the Supreme) am Ashvattha (Peepul tree). Among Devarshis, I am Narada, the devotional ascetic. I am Chitraratha among Gandharvas, and Kapila Muni among the Siddhas.

उच्चै:श्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् ।
ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ॥

uccai:śravasam-aśvānāṃ viddhi mām-amṛtodbhavam
airāvataṃ gajendrāṇāṃ narāṇāṃ ca narādhipam – 10.27

Among horses, I (the Supreme) am Ucchaiśravas that emerged when the milky ocean was churned for getting nectar. (I am) Airavata among powerful elephants, and King among human beings.

आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक् ।
प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्प:सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकि:॥

āyudhānām-ahaṃ vajraṃ dhenūnām-asmi kāma-dhuk
prajanaścāsmi kandarpa: sarpāṇām-asmi vāsuki: – 10.28

Among weapons, I (the Supreme) shine specially in thunderbolt; of all cows Kamadhenu embodies the Supreme best. I am Kandarpa (god of love and passion) among progenitors, to give birth to beings. Among serpents, I am Vasuki.

अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् ।
पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यम: संयमतामहम् ॥

anantaścāsmi nāgānāṃ varuṇo yādasām-aham
pitṛṇām-aryamā cāsmi yama: saṃyamatām-aham – 10.29

I (the Supreme) am specially in Ananta among the Nagas; in Varuna among water beings. I am Aryama among the manes, and amidst all controllers, I am Yama (the Lord of death).

प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां काल:कलयतामहम् ।
मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ॥

prahlādaścāsmi daityānāṃ kāla: kalayatāmaham
mṛgāṇāṃ ca mṛgendro’haṃ vainateyaśca pakṣiṇām – 10.30

I am Prahlada (the great devotee of the Lord) among the Daityas (Asuras, who decry the Lord). Of the various measuring units, I am Time. Amongst animals, I am the lordly lion; and Vainateya (Garuda, like eagle) among birds.

पवन:पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् ।
झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ॥

pavana: pavatām-asmi rāma: śastra-bhṛtām-aham
jhaṣāṇāṃ makaraścāsmi srotasām-asmi jāhnavī – 10.31

I (the Supreme) am the wind among purifiers, Rama among the wielders of weapons, alligator among fishes, and Ganga among rivers.

सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन ।
अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वाद:प्रवदतामहम् ॥

sargāṇām-ādir-antaś-ca madhyaṃ caivāham-arjuna
adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāṃ vāda: pravadatām-aham – 10.32

Of all created things, I (the Supreme) am the beginning, middle and the end, O Arjuna. Of all knowledges, I am the spiritual science; of debaters, I am logic itself.

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्व:सामासिकस्य च ।
अहमेवाक्षय:कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुख:॥

akṣarāṇām-akāro’smi dvandva: sāmāsikasya ca
aham-evākṣaya: kālo dhātāhaṃ viśvatomukha: – 10.33

Among all letters, I (the Supreme) am ‘A’ (the first vowel). Of all compounds (samāsas), I am the dual (dvandva). I am the never-ending Time, and the sustainer with faces everywhere.

मृत्यु:सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम् ।
कीर्ति:श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृति:क्षमा ॥

mṛtyu: sarva-haraścāham-udbhavaś-ca bhaviṣyatām
kīrti: śrīr-vāk-ca nārīṇāṃ smṛtir-medhā dhṛti: kṣamā – 10.34

I, the Supreme, am the all-wrenching death. Equally so, the source of everything and all to occur. I, the Supreme, am the fame, fortune, amiable speech, timely memory, wisdom, will and forbearance, all qualities found in women.

बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् ।
मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकर:॥

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṃ gāyatrī chandasām-aham
māsānāṃ mārgaśīrṣo’ham-ṛtūnāṃ kusumākara: – 10.35

Of Sāma-veda hymns, I (the Supreme) feature specially in Bṛhat-sāma, among Vedic meters, in Gāyatrī; of the twelve months, in Mārgaśeersha; of seasons, in the flowering Vasanta.

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् ।
जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥

dyūtaṃ chalayatām-asmi tejas-tejasvinām-aham
jayo‘smi vyavasāyo‘smi sattvaṃ sattvavatām-aham – 10.36

Among the deceitful, I (the Supreme) am the game of deceptive dice (gambling). In the powerful, I am the power. I am victory and resoluteness. I am the sattva-guṇa in the sāttvika people.

वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनंजय:।
मुनीनामप्यहं व्यास:कवीनामुशना कवि:॥

vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo’smi pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjaya:
munīnām-apy-ahaṃ vyāsa: kavīnām-uśanā kavi: – 10.37

I (the Supreme) am Vāsudeva (Krishna) among the Vrishnis, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) among the Pandavas. Among philosopher Saints, I am Vyasa, and among the sage-poets, Shukracharya the far-sighted.

दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् ।
मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ॥

daṇḍo damayatām-asmi nītir-asmi jigīṣatām
maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatām-aham – 10.38

Of enforcers of discipline and order, I (the Supreme) am the rod of chastisement. Among aspirants of victory, I am justice and propriety. Of secrets, I am Silence. Of knowledgeable people, I am knowledge itself.

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

yaccāpi sarva-bhūtānāṃ bījaṃ tad-aham-arjuna
na tad-asti vinā yat-syān-mayā bhūtaṃ carācaram – 10.39

Whatever is the seed of all beings, I (the Supreme) am all that. No mobile and immobile creation will be there, if it is to be without Me (the Supreme).

नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परंतप ।
एष तूद्देशत:प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ॥

nānto’sti mama divyānāṃ vibhūtīnāṃ parantapa
eṣa tūddeśata: prokto vibhūter-vistaro mayā – 10.40

O scorcher of enemies (Arjuna), there is no end to My divine glories. Whatever is described by Me is but a brief rendering of the extensive glories the Self hosts in Itself.

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा ।
तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसम्भवम् ॥

yad-yad-vibhūtimat-sattvaṃ śrīmad-ūrjitam-eva vā
tat-tad-evāvagaccha tvaṃ mama tejoṃ’śasambhavam – 10.41

Whatever appears or strikes as stupendous, unique, strong or powerful, know it as a spark of My manifold brilliance.

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन ।
विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥

athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham-idaṃ kṛtsnam-ekāṃśena sthito jagat – 10.42

But, O Arjuna, of what use is there to know so much about all these details? Suffice it to say that I (as the Supreme) remain pervading and supporting this Universe by a small speck of My divine brilliance.

ओं तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे विभूतियोगो नाम दशमोऽध्याय:।

oṃ tat-sad-iti śrīmad-bhagavad-gītāsūpaniṣatsu brahma-vidyāyāṃ yoga-śāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjuna-saṃvāde vibhūti-yogo nāma daśamo’dhyāya:

Om – the symbol of Brahman, tat – that singular Reality (Brahman), sat – the ever abiding presence (Brahman).

Thus ends the tenth chapter entitled Vibhūti Yoga, during the Srikrishna-Arjuna dialogue in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gita, constituting Yoga-śāstra, which falls within Brahmavidya as presented in the Vedic Upanishads.