Chapter 10

Vibhūtiyoga

 Union through knowledge of the divine emanations

(Sanskrit terms and names can be clicked for explanation)

The Holy One said:

Now further, O you of mighty arms! listen to my most excellent discourse, which I shall from desire for your good declare to you who are rejoicing. (1)

The multitude of divinities know [or knew: viduḥ] not my origin nor the great ṛṣis [maharṣayaḥ]. For I am the beginning of gods and the great ṛṣis 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 ṛṣis [mahārṣayaḥ], 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 power of mine 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 [bhāvasamanvitāḥ], 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 to 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:

You are the supreme brahman [parabrahman]! the supreme abode, the supreme purification, the everlasting puruṣa, divine, first of divinities, unborn, lord! (12)

All the ṛṣis proclaim you [thus], and Nārada the divine ṛṣi, Asita, Devala, Vyāsa. Then you yourself, indeed, tell me [so]. (13)

All this that you tell me I consider true, O Keśava. For, O holy one [bhagavan], neither the gods nor the Dānavas know your manifestation. (14)

You alone know the self by the self, O best of men [Puruṣottama]! O evolver of beings! O lord of beings! God of gods! O World-Ruler! (15)

You [alone] are able to tell, in full, the divine emanations of self, by which emanations you abide, pervading these worlds. (16)

How may I know you, the yogin, always meditating [on you]? And in what various natures are you to be thought of by me, O holy one? (17)

Again, O Janārdana, do declare fully the yoga and emanation of the self. Society exists not for me, learning this nectar [amṛtam]! (18)

The Holy One said:

Now then, O best of the Kurus, I will relate to you 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 Viṣṇu 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 Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, I am fire among the Vasus, I am Meru among pinnacled mountains. (23)

Know me, O son of Pṛthā, to be Bṛhaspati, 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 maharṣis. I am of songs the One Syllable [Oṁ!], I am the Japa sacrifice among sacrifices, and of immovables [mountains] the Himālaya; (25)

Aśvattha [the tree of life] among all trees, and Nārada among the devaṛṣis, Chitraratha among the celestial charioteers [gandharvānām], Kapila among those perfect from birth [siddhānām]. (26)

Know me to be Uchchhaiḥśravā, 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 Kāmadhuk [the cow of abundance]. I am also the generator Kandarpa [the divinity of love]. Among serpents I am Vāsuki. (28)

Ananta too am I among Nāgas; Varuṇa 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)

Pavana [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 dvandva [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 females, Memory, Intelligence, Constancy, Patience. (34)

The Bṛhatsāma too of the Sāma hymns, the Gāyatrī among sacred verses am I. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, of seasons the flower-maker [Spring: kusumākaraḥ]. (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 Vṛṣṇis I am Vasudeva, I am among the Pāṇḍavas 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, understand all these things to be the production of portions of my energy. (41)

But what, O Arjuna, is such great knowledge to you? I abide, having established this whole universe through a single portion [of myself]. (42)

Thus in the Holy

Bhagavad-Gītā. Tenth

chapter, by name —

Vibhūtiyoga

Union through [knowledge of the] divine emanations