CHAPTER 10 

Verse 1 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
bhūya eva mahā-bāho
śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ
yat te ’haṁ prīyamāṇāya
vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā

Çré Bhagavän said: O mighty-armed one, again hear My instructions that are superior to what I have spoken previously. Desiring your ultimate welfare, I shall reveal this knowledge to you because of your love for Me.

Verse 2 

na me viduḥ sura-gaṇāḥ
prabhavaṁ na maharṣayaḥ
aham ādir hi devānāṁ
maharṣīṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ

I am the original cause in every respect. For this reason, even all the demigods and saintly maharñis do not know the nature of My glorious appearance in this mundane world.

Verse 3 

yo mām ajam anādiṁ ca
vetti loka-maheśvaram
asammūḍhaḥ sa martyeṣu
sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Only he who knows Me as unborn, beginningless and the Supreme Controller of all the worlds is free from illusion, among mortals, and fully freed from all sins.

Verse 4 – 5 

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

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from anxiety, tolerance, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness, distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, non-violence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and criticism – all these diverse qualities of the living beings originate from Me.

Verse 6 

maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve
catvāro manavas tathā
mad-bhāvā mānasā jātā
yeṣāṁ loka imāḥ prajāḥ

The seven maharñis such as Maréci, before them, the four brahmarñis such as Sanaka, and the fourteen Manus such as Sväyambhuva are all born from My form of Hiraëyagarbha (Viñëu) through My mind. This human race has been populated by brähmaëas and others who became their progeny or disciples, and by the disciples of their disciples. 

Verse 7 

etāṁ vibhūtiṁ yogaṁ ca
mama yo vetti tattvataḥ
so ’vikalpena yogena
yujyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

He who factually knows all of My opulences and the principles of bhakti-yoga becomes endowed with unwavering knowledge of Me. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8 

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

I am the source of both mundane and spiritual worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this well engage in bhajana of Me, with transcendental emotion in their hearts.

Verse 9 

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

Those whose minds are absorbed in Me and whose lives are wholeheartedly devoted to My service derive great satisfaction and bliss from constantly enlightening one another with the fundamental truth about Me and performing kértana of My name, form, qualities and pastimes.

Verse 10 

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

To those who worship Me with love and yearn for My eternal association, I give that transcendental knowledge by which they attain Me.

Verse 11 

teṣām evānukampārtham
aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho
jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

Only out of compassion for devotees who are exclusively devoted to Me do I, dwelling within their intelligence, destroy with the blazing lamp of transcendental knowledge the darkness of material existence, which is born of ignorance.

Verse 12 – 13

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

Arjuna said: I know that You are the Supreme Absolute Truth and the Supreme Abode. You are supremely pure and the destroyer of the impurity of ignorance. The great åñis such as Devarñi Närada, Asita, Devala and Vyäsa also glorify You as the eternal Personality, the transcendental and primeval Lord, who is unborn and omnipresent. Now You personally are saying this to me.

Verse 14 

sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manye
yan māṁ vadasi keśava
na hi te bhagavan vyaktiṁ
vidur devā na dānavāḥ

O Keçava, I accept all that You have told me to be true, for neither the demigods nor the demons comprehend the essential truth of You and Your birth. 

Verse 15 

svayam evātmanātmānaṁ
vettha tvaṁ puruṣottama
bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa
deva-deva jagat-pate

O Puruñottama, Supreme Person! O Bhüta-bhävana, creator of beings! O Bhüteça, father of all created beings! O Deva-deva, God of gods! O Jagat-pati, Master of the universe! You alone know Yourself by Your own potency.

Verse 16 

vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa
divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ
yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān
imāṁs tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi

Only You are able to fully describe Your divine majestic opulences by which You pervade and reside throughout the entire creation.

Verse 17 

kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogiṁs
tvāṁ sadā paricintayan
keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu
cintyo ’si bhagavan mayā

O Supreme Mystic, possessor of the yogamäyä-çakti, how shall I know You and constantly think of You? O Bhagavän, which of Your variegated aspects should I contemplate and in which moods am I to meditate? 

Verse 18 

vistareṇātmano yogaṁ
vibhūtiṁ ca janārdana
bhūyaḥ kathaya tṛptir hi
śṛṇvato nāsti me ’mṛtam

O Janärdana, please tell me again in detail about Your mystic powers and opulences, for I am not satiated from hearing Your nectarean words.

Verse 19 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi
divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ
prādhānyataḥ kuru-śreṣṭha
nāsty anto vistarasya me

Çré Bhagavän said: O best of the Kurus, I shall certainly describe My divine opulences to you, but I will only describe those that are prominent, for there is no limit to My glories. 

Verse 20 

aham ātmā guḍākeśa
sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ
aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca
bhūtānām anta eva ca

O Guòäkeça, I am the indwelling witness, who resides within the heart of every living entity, and I alone am the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of all beings.

Verse 21 

ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇur
jyotiṣāṁ ravir aṁśumān
marīcir marutām asmi
nakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī

Of the twelve Ädityas I am Viñëu, who is My opulence. Among luminaries I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts (wind-gods) I am Maréci, and among stars I am the moon.

Verse 22 

vedānāṁ sāma-vedo ’smi
devānām asmi vāsavaḥ
indriyāṇāṁ manaś cāsmi
bhūtānām asmi cetanā

Of the Vedas I am the Säma Veda, among the demigods I am Indra, of the senses I am the mind, and among living beings I am consciousness.

Verse 23 

rudrāṇāṁ śaṅkaraś cāsmi
vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām
vasūnāṁ pāvakaś cāsmi
meruḥ śikhariṇām aham

Of all the Rudras I am Çaìkara, of the Yakñas and Rakñasas I am Kuvera, of the eight Vasus I am Agni, and among mountains I am Sumeru.

Verse 24 

purodhasāṁ ca mukhyaṁ māṁ
viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim
senānīnām ahaṁ skandaḥ
sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ

O Pärtha, of priests know Me to be Båhaspati, the chief. Of generals I am Kärttikeya, and among reservoirs of water I am the ocean.

Verse 25 

maharṣīṇāṁ bhṛgur ahaṁ
girām asmy ekam akṣaram
yajñānāṁ japa-yajño ’smi
sthāvarāṇāṁ himālayaḥ

Among great sages I am Bhågu, among utterances I am the allencompassing syllable oà, of sacrifices I am the meditative chanting of the holy name, and among non-moving entities I am the Himälayan mountains. 

Verse 26 

aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṁ
devarṣīṇāṁ ca nāradaḥ
gandharvāṇāṁ citrarathaḥ
siddhānāṁ kapilo muniḥ

Of trees I am the pépala, of celestial sages I am Närada, of Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am Kapila Muni.

Verse 27 

uccaiḥśravasam aśvānāṁ
viddhi mām amṛtodbhavam
airāvataṁ gajendrāṇāṁ
narāṇāṁ ca narādhipam

Of horses know Me to be Uccaiùçravä, born from the churning of the ocean to extract nectar. Among elephants I am Airävata, and among men I am the king. 

Verse 28 

āyudhānām ahaṁ vajraṁ
dhenūnām asmi kāma-dhuk
prajanaś cāsmi kandarpaḥ
sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ

Among weapons I am the thunderbolt, and of cows I am Kämadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow. I am the god of love, Kandarpa, who causes procreation, and among snakes I am Väsuki.

Verse 29 

anantaś cāsmi nāgānāṁ
varuṇo yādasām aham
pitṝṇām aryamā cāsmi
yamaḥ saṁyamatām aham

Of Nägas I am the divine serpent Ananta, among aquatics I am Varuëa, lord of the waters, of the ancestors I am Aryamä, and of chastisers I am Yamaräja.

Verse 30 

prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāṁ
kālaḥ kalayatām aham
mṛgāṇāṁ ca mṛgendro ’haṁ
vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām

Among the daityas I am Prahläda, and of controllers I am time. Of beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuòa.

Verse 31 

pavanaḥ pavatām asmi
rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām aham
jhaṣāṇāṁ makaraś cāsmi
srotasām asmi jāhnavī

Among that which is swift and purifying I am the wind, of wielders of weapons I am the çaktyäveça-avatära Paraçuräma. Among the aquatics I am the makara, and among all the rivers I am the Gaìgä.

Verse 32 

sargāṇām ādir antaś ca
madhyaṁ caivāham arjuna
adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāṁ
vādaḥ pravadatām aham

O Arjuna, I am the creator, maintainer and destroyer of all created objects, such as the sky. Of all knowledge I am knowledge of the self, and in logical debate I am väda, the philosophical principle that asserts the conclusive truth.

Verse 33 

akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
aham evākṣayaḥ kālo
dhātāhaṁ viśvato-mukhaḥ

Of letters I am the letter A, and of compound words I am dvandva, the dual compound. Among annihilators I am all-powerful time in the form of Mahäkäla Rudra, and of creators I am Lord Brahmä. 

Verse 34 

mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham
udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām
kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāṁ
smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

I am all-devouring death, and of the six progressive transformations experienced by all living beings, I am birth. Among women I am fame, beauty, fine speech, memory, intelligence, forbearance and forgiveness.

Verse 35 

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ
gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo ’ham
ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ

Among the hymns of the Säma Veda I am Båhat-säma, the prayer to Indra. Of metres I am gäyatré, of months I am Märga-çérña, and of seasons I am the flower-bearing spring.

Verse 36

dyūtaṁ chalayatām asmi
tejas tejasvinām aham
jayo ’smi vyavasāyo ’smi
sattvaṁ sattvavatām aham

Of cheating practices I am gambling, and of the splendid I am splendour. I am victory among the victorious, the endeavour of the industrious and the might of the mighty

Verse 37

vṛṣṇīnāṁ vāsudevo ’smi
pāṇḍavānāṁ dhanañ-jayaḥ
munīnām apy ahaṁ vyāsaḥ
kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ

Of the Våñëis I am Väsudeva, of the Päëòavas I am Arjuna, of the sages, I am Vyäsa, and among poets I am Çukräcärya.

Verse 38

daṇḍo damayatām asmi
nītir asmi jigīṣatām
maunaṁ caivāsmi guhyānāṁ
jñānaṁ jñānavatām aham

Among those who dispense justice, I am the rod of chastisement, and for those who seek victory, I am morality. Of secrets I am silence, and I am the wisdom of the wise.

Verse 39 

yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāṁ
bījaṁ tad aham arjuna
na tad asti vinā yat syān
mayā bhūtaṁ carācaram

O Arjuna, I am the original cause, the generating seed of all existence. No entity, either moving or non-moving, can exist separately from Me.

Verse 40 

nānto ’sti mama divyānāṁ
vibhūtīnāṁ paran-tapa
eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto
vibhūter vistaro mayā

O Parantapa, My divine opulences are endless. What I have described to you is a mere indication of them.

Verse 41 

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ
mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam

Know for certain that everything in existence that is opulent, majestic and endowed with power, springs from but a part of My potency

Verse 42 

atha vā bahunaitena
kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat

Of what use to you, Arjuna, is all this detailed knowledge? Just understand this: merely by My single plenary portion do I pervade and sustain this entire universe.