Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga, God's Glories in Simple Words

In chapter 10 God explains where He can be seen in the world. Whatever is most beautiful, strongest or most excellent carries His splendour. The chapter offers a simple path of meditation: to remember God whenever one sees greatness in the world.

Verses 1 to 7: none knows my origin

"Hear again my supreme word, mighty-armed one. Neither the gods nor the great sages know my origin, for I am the source of them all. One who knows me as unborn, beginningless and the great Lord of the worlds is free of delusion among mortals and released from all sin."

"Intelligence, knowledge, clarity, forgiveness, truth, self-control, calm, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy: these varied states of beings come from me alone. The seven great sages, the four before them and the fourteen Manus were born of my mind, and from them came all these creatures. One who knows in truth this glory and power of mine is united with me in unshakable devotion."

Verses 8 to 11: a lamp in the devotee's heart

Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava samanvitah (10.8)

Meaning: I am the source of all; from me everything proceeds. Knowing this, the wise worship me with love.

"With minds and lives given to me, enlightening one another and always speaking of me, they are content and delighted. To those who are ever devoted and worship me with love, I give the yoga of understanding by which they come to me (10.10). Out of compassion, dwelling in their hearts, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge (10.11)."

Verses 12 to 18: Arjuna's praise and request

Arjuna says: "You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier. All the sages, the divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa call you the eternal divine Person, the first God, unborn and all-pervading, and now you tell me so yourself. I accept all you say as true, Keshava. Neither gods nor demons know your manifestation. Only you know yourself by yourself, Supreme Person, source and Lord of beings, God of gods, master of the world. Tell me fully your divine glories by which you pervade these worlds. How shall I know you through constant meditation, and in what forms should I think of you? I am never tired of hearing your nectar-like words."

Verses 19 to 42: God's glories

Krishna says: "There is no end to my glories, so I will tell you the chief ones."

Aham atma gudakesha sarva bhutashaya sthitah
aham adish cha madhyam cha bhutanam anta eva cha (10.20)

Meaning: I am the self, Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.

• Among the Adityas I am Vishnu, among lights the radiant sun, among the Maruts Marichi, among the stars the moon.
• Among the Vedas I am the Sama Veda, among the gods Indra, among the senses the mind, in beings consciousness.
• Among the Rudras I am Shankara, among yakshas and rakshasas Kubera, among the Vasus fire, among mountains Meru.
• Among priests I am Brihaspati, among generals Skanda, among waters the ocean.
• Among the great sages I am Bhrigu, among words the one syllable Om, among offerings the offering of japa, among immovable things the Himalaya.
• Among trees I am the ashvattha, among divine sages Narada, among gandharvas Chitraratha, among the perfected Kapila.
• Among horses I am Uchchaihshravas born of nectar, among elephants Airavata, among men the king.
• Among weapons I am the thunderbolt, among cows Kamadhenu, of progenitors Kandarpa, among serpents Vasuki.
• Among the nagas I am Ananta, among water beings Varuna, among ancestors Aryaman, among those who govern Yama.
• Among the daityas I am Prahlada, among reckoners time, among beasts the lion, among birds Garuda.
• Among purifiers I am the wind; "ramah shastrabhritam aham", among warriors I am Rama; among fish the makara, among rivers the Ganga (10.31).
• Of creations I am the beginning, middle and end; of sciences the science of the self; in debate, the reasoning that seeks truth.
• Of letters I am "A", of compounds the dual, I am endless time and the sustainer facing everywhere.
• I am all-devouring death and the origin of all that is to be; among feminine qualities I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and forgiveness.
• Among hymns I am the Brihat Sama, among metres the Gayatri, among months Margashirsha, among seasons spring.
• Of cheats I am gambling, the splendour of the splendid, victory, resolve and the goodness of the good.
• Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva, among the Pandavas Arjuna, among sages Vyasa, among seers Ushana.
• I am the rod of those who discipline, the statecraft of those who seek victory, the silence of secrets and the knowledge of the wise.
• I am the seed of all beings; nothing moving or unmoving can exist without me.

"There is no end to my divine glories; I have told you only a part."

Yad yad vibhutimat sattvam shrimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagachchha tvam mama tejo 'mshasambhavam (10.41)

Meaning: Whatever is glorious, beautiful or mighty, know it to have sprung from a fragment of my splendour.

"But what need have you of all this detail, Arjuna? I stand supporting this entire universe with a single fragment of myself (10.42)."

What this chapter teaches

• Wherever you see extraordinary beauty, strength or virtue, see a spark of God; this is a simple meditation.
• Satsang, talk of God and hearing katha deepen devotion, and God Himself lights the lamp of knowledge in the heart.
• "Among warriors I am Rama": strength joined with right conduct is divine strength.
• The whole universe rests in a fraction of God; before such vastness pride cannot stand.