Lesson X
(Sanskrit terms and names can be clicked for explanation)
The Holy One said:
“Now further, O thou of mighty arms ! listen to my most excellent discourse, which I shall from desire for thy good declare unto thee who art rejoicing. (1)
“The multitude of divinities know [or knew: viduh] not my origin nor the great rishis [maharshayah]. For I am the beginning of gods and the great rishis in every way. (2)
“He who knows me as unborn and as without beginning, the great lord of the world, is of clear sight among mortals. He is freed from all evils. (3)
“Understanding, knowledge, clear-mindedness, patience, truth, self-control, calmness, pleasure, pain, existence, non-existence, fear, and also lack of fear, (4)
“inoffensiveness, equanimity, contentment, penance, gifts, renown, disgrace, [these] several states of beings are verily from me. (5)
“In former ages the seven great rishis [maharshayah], also the four manus, were born of my nature and of my mind. Of them the world, [which is] these [my] offspring. (6)
“He who knows correctly this my power and my yoga [union], is united with unwavering union [yogena]. Of this there is no doubt. (7)
“I am the production [prabhavo: origin] of all. From me all proceeds. Trusting thus, the wise who search [the mysteries of] being [bhāvasmanvitāh], choose me. (8)
“With mind on me, with vital energies directed to me, instructing each other, and declaring me constantly, they are content and at ease. (9)
“To them [thus] ever united and choosing [me] with love, I give that yoga of the understanding, by which they attain unto me. (10)
“Existent [within them] as the self, out of pity, I destroy their darkness born of ignorance, by the brilliant light of knowledge.” (11)
Arjuna said:
“Thou art the supreme Brahman [parabrahman] ! the supreme abode, the supreme purification, the everlasting Purusha, divine, first of divinities, unborn, lord ! (12)
“All the rishis proclaim thee [thus], and Nārada the divine rishi, Asita, Devala, Vyāsa. Then thyself, indeed, tallest me [so]. (13)
“All this that thou tellest me I consider true, O Keśava. For, O holy one [bhagavan], neither the gds nor the Dānavas know thy manifestation. (14)
“Thou alone knowest the self by the self, O best of men [Purushottama] ! O evolver of beings ! O lord of beings ! God of gods ! O World-Ruler ! (15)
“Thou [alone] art able to tell, in full, the divine emanations of self, by which emanations thou abidest, pervading these worlds. (16)
“How may I know thee, the Yogin, always meditating [on thee] ? And in what various natures art thou to be thought of by me, O holy one ? (17)
“Again, O Janārdana, do thou declare fully the yoga and emanation of the self. Society exists not for me, learning this nectar [amritam] !” (18)
The Holy One said:
“Now then, O best of the Kurus, I shall relate unto thee the divine emanations of the self, [but] by principal heads, for there is no limit to my expansion. (19)
“I am the self, O Gudakeśa, abiding as the Seat of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and also the end of all beings. (20)
“I am Vishnu among the Ādityas, the radiant sun among luminaries, Marīchi among the Maruts, the moon among the asterisms. (21)
“I am the Sāmaveda among the Vedas, I am Vāsava [a name of Indra] among the gods, I am the mind [manas] among the faculties of sense, I am consciousness [chetanā] in beings.. (22)
“Among the Rudras I am Śankara [a name of Śiva], Vitteśa [a name of Kubera, the divinity of riches] among the Yakshas and Rākshasas, I am fire among the Vasus, I am Meru among pinnacled mountains. (23)
“Know me, O son of Prithā, to be Brihaspati, the original of priests. I am Skanda [Kārttikeya, the divinity of war] among generals of armies. I am the ocean among waters. (24)
“I am Bhṛgu among the mahaṛṣis. I am of songs the One Syllable [Om!], I am the Japa sacrifice among sacrifices, and of immovables [mountains] the Himālaya; (25)
“Aśwattha [the tree of life] among all trees, and Nārada among the devarishis, Chitraratha among the celestial charioteers [gandharvānām], Kapila among those perfect from birth [siddhānām]. (26)
“Know me to be Ucchchaihśravasa born of [nectar of] immortality, among horses, Airāvata among great elephants, and the ruler of man among men. (27)
“Among weapons I am the thunderbolt, I am among cows kāmadhuh [the cow of abundance]. I am too the generator Kandarpa [the divinity of love]. Among serpents I am Vāsuki. (28)
“Ananta too am I among Nāgas; Varuna among the waters am I, and Yama among the restrainers I am. (29)
“Prahlāda am I among Daityas, Kālah [Time] among those that urge on [or: calculate, reckon] am I. Of beasts the king of beasts I am, and Vinata’s son among birds. (30)
“Panava [the Wind] among purifiers I am, Rāma among those bearing arms and Makara among fishes am I, and Jāhnavī [the Ganges] among rivers. (31)
“Of evolutions the beginning, end and middle too, am I, O Arjuna. The science of Adhyātman [the supreme Self] among sciences, human speech among sounds, am I. (32)
“Among syllables I am the vowel A, and the dwandwa [couplet] of compounded words. Also am I imperishable Time; I am the Arranger with face everywhere. (33)
“Death the seizer of all am I, and the production of all things that are to be. Fame, Glory, and Speech among feminines, Memory, Intelligence, Constancy, Patience. (34)
“The Brihatsāma too of the Sāma hymns, the gāyatrī among sacred verses am I. Of months I am Mārgaśīrsha, of seasons the flower-maker [Spring: kusumākarah]. (35)
“The prize of them who delude am I, the splendor of the splendid I am. History am I, Perseverance am I, The Reality of Real Things am I. (36)
“Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva, I am among the Pāndavas Dhanañjaya. Among munis I am even Vyāsa; among sages Uśanas the sage. (37)
“The rod of them who rule I am, prudent conduct am I of them who desire to overcome. The silence of mysteries am I, the knowledge of those who know I am. (38)
“And whatever is the Seed of all beings, that am I, O Arjuna ! There is no being moving or unmoving, whatever it may bee, without me. (39)
“There is no limit to my divine emanations, O Harasser of Foes ! So this detailed exposition of emanation is uttered by me by way of illustration [only]. (40)
“Whatever is powerful, true, glorious, or strong, all such understand then to be the production of portions of my energy. (41)
“But what, O Arjuna, is such great knowledge to thee ? I abide, having established this whole universe through a single portion [of myself].” (42)
Thus in the Holy
Bhagavad-Gītā. Tenth
Address, by name —
Vibhūtiyoga (Union through [knowledge of
the] divine emanations).
