CHAPTER 10 : The Creator owns all
©2001, TheBhagavatGita.com

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; bhuyah -- again; eva -- certainly; maha-baho -- O mighty-armed; srnu -- just hear; me -- My; paramam -- supreme; vacah -- instruction; yat -- that which; te -- to you; aham -- I; priyamanaya -- thinking you dear to Me; vaksyami -- say; hita-kamyaya -- for your benefit.

The Supreme said: Listen again, O mighty-armed Arjuna. Because you are My dear friend, for your benefit I shall speak to you further, giving knowledge that is better than what I have already explained.

na -- never; me -- My; viduh -- know; sura-ganah -- the demigods; prabhavam -- origin, opulences; na -- never; maha-rsayah -- great sages; aham -- I am; adih -- the origin; hi -- certainly; devanam -- of the demigods; maha-rsinam -- of the great sages; ca -- also; sarvasah -- in all respects.

Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin or opulences, for, in every respect, I am the source of the demigods and sages.

yah -- anyone who; mam -- Me; ajam -- unborn; anadim -- without beginning; ca -- also; vetti -- knows; loka -- of the planets; maha-isvaram -- the supreme master; asammudhah -- undeluded; sah -- he; martyesu -- among those subject to death; sarva-papaih -- from all sinful reactions; pramucyate -- is delivered.

He who knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds -- he only, undeluded among men, is freed from all sins.

buddhih -- intelligence; jnanam -- knowledge; asammohah -- freedom from doubt; ksama -- forgiveness; satyam -- truthfulness; damah -- control of the senses; samah -- control of the mind; sukham -- happiness; duhkham -- distress; bhavah -- birth; abhavah -- death; bhayam -- fear; ca -- also; abhayam -- fearlessness; eva -- also; ca -- and; ahimsa -- nonviolence; samata -- equilibrium; tustih -- satisfaction; tapah -- penance; danam -- charity; yasah -- fame; ayasah -- infamy; bhavanti -- come about; bhavah -- natures; bhutanam -- of living entities; mattah -- from Me; eva -- certainly; prthak-vidhah -- variously arranged.

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy -- all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone.

maha-rsayah -- the great sages; sapta -- seven; purve -- before; catvarah -- four; manavah -- Manus; tatha -- also; mat-bhavah -- born of Me; manasah -- from the mind; jatah -- born; yesam -- of them; loke -- in the world; imah -- all this; prajah -- population.

The seven great sages and before them the four other great sages and the Manus [progenitors of mankind] come from Me, born from My mind, and all the living beings populating the various planets descend from them.

etam -- all this; vibhutimn -- opulence; yogam -- mystic power; ca -- also; mama -- of Mine; yah -- anyone who; vetti -- knows; tattvatah -- factually; sah -- he; avikalpena -- without division; yogena -- in devotional service; yujyate -- is engaged; na -- never; atra -- here; samsayah -- doubt.

One who is factually convinced of this opulence and mystic power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt.

aham -- I; sarvasya -- of all; prabhavah -- the source of generation; mattah -- from Me; sarvam -- everything; pravartate -- emanates; iti -- thus; matva -- knowing; bhajante -- become devoted; mam -- unto Me; budhah -- the learned; bhava-samanvitah -- with great attention.

I am the generative source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me attentively with all their hearts.

mat-cittah -- their minds fully engaged in Me; mat-gata-pranah -- their lives devoted to Me; bodhayantah -- preaching; parasparam -- among themselves; kathayantah -- talking; ca -- also; mam -- about Me; nityam -- perpetually; tusyanti -- become pleased; ca -- also; ramanti -- enjoy transcendental bliss; ca -- also.

The thoughts and minds of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and enjoy mystic bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.

tesam -- unto them; satata-yuktanam -- always engaged; bhajatam -- in rendering devotional service; priti-purvakam -- in loving ecstasy; dadami -- I give; buddhi-yogam -- real intelligence; tam -- that; yena -- by which; mam -- unto Me; upayanti -- come; te -- they.

To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the real intelligence and understanding by which they can come to Me.

tesam -- for them; eva -- certainly; anukampa-artham -- to show special mercy; aham -- I; ajnana jam -- due to ignorance; tamah -- darkness; nasayami -- dispel; atma-bhava -- within their hearts; sthah -- situated; jnana -- of knowledge; dipena -- with the lamp; bhasvata -- glowing.

To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.

arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; param -- supreme; brahma -- truth; param -- supreme; dhama -- sustenance; pavitram -- pure; paramam -- supreme; bhavan -- You; purusam -- personality; sasvatam -- original; divyam -- transcendental; adi-devam -- the original Lord; ajam -- unborn; vibhum -- greatest; ahuh -- say; tvam -- of You; rsayah -- sages; sarve -- all; deva-rsih -- the sage among the demigods; naradah -- Narada; tatha -- also; asitah -- Asita; devalah -- Devala; vyasah -- Vyasa; svayam -- personally; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; bravisi -- You are explaining; me -- unto me.

Arjuna said: You are The Supreme, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.

sarvam -- all; etat -- this; rtam -- truth; manye -- I accept; yat -- which; mam -- unto me; vadasi -- You tell; kesava -- O Krishna; na -- never; hi -- certainly; te -- Your; bhagavan -- Lord; vyaktim -- revelation; viduh -- can know; devah -- the demigods; na -- nor; danavah -- the demons.

O Krishna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the demigods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality.

svayam -- personally; eva -- certainly; atmana -- by Yourself; atmanam -- Yourself; vettha -- know; tvam -- You; purusa-uttama -- O greatest of all persons; bhuta-bhavana -- O origin of everything; bhuta-isa -- O Lord of everything; deva-deva -- O Lord of all demigods; jagat-pate -- O Lord of the entire universe.

Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own internal potency, O Supreme Person, origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, Lord of the universe!

vaktum -- to say; arhasi -- You deserve; asesena -- in detail; divyah -- divine; hi -- certainly; atma -- Your own; vibhutayah -- opulences; yabhih -- by which; vibhutibhih -- opulences; lokan -- all the planets; iman -- these; tvam -- You; vyapya -- pervading; tisthasi -- remain.

Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulences by which You pervade all these worlds.

katham -- how; vidyam aham -- shall I know; yogin -- O supreme mystic; tvam -- You; sada -- always; paricintayan -- thinking of; kesu -- in which; kesu -- in which; ca -- also; bhavesu -- natures; cintyah asi -- You are to be remembered; bhagavan -- O Supreme; maya -- by me.

O Krishna, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme Personality of Godhead?

vistarena -- in detail; atmanah -- Your; yogam -- mystic power; vibhutim -- opulences; ca -- also; jana-ardana -- O killer of the atheists; bhuyah -- again; kathaya -- describe; trptih -- satisfaction; hi -- certainly; srnvatah -- hearing; na asti -- there is not; me -- my; amrtam -- nectar.

O Janardana, again please describe in detail the mystic power of Your opulences. I am never satiated in hearing about You, for the more I hear the more I want to taste the nectar of Your words.

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; hanta -- yes; te -- unto you; kathayisyami -- I shall speak; divyah -- divine; hi -- certainly; atma-vibhutayah -- personal opulences; pradhanyatah -- which are principal; kuru-srestha -- O best of the Kurus; na asti -- there is not; antah -- limit; vistarasya -- to the extent; me -- My.

The Supreme said: Yes, I will tell you of My splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is truly limitless.

aham -- I; atma -- the soul; gudakesa -- O Arjuna; sarva-bhuta -- of all living entities; asaya-sthitah -- situated within the heart; aham -- I am; adih -- the origin; ca -- also; madhyam -- middle; ca -- also; bhutanam -- of all living entities; antah -- end; eva -- certainly; ca -- and.

I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all living beings.

adityanam -- of the Adityas; aham -- I am; visnuh -- the Supreme Lord; jyotisam -- of all luminaries; ravih -- the sun; amsu-man -- radiant; maricih -- Marici; marutam -- of the Maruts; asmi -- I am; naksatranam -- of the stars; aham -- I am; sasi -- the moon.

Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon.

vedanam -- of all the Vedas; sama-vedah -- the Sama Veda; asmi -- I am; devanam -- of all the demigods; asmi -- I am; vasavah -- the heavenly king; indriyanam -- of all the senses; manah -- the mind; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; bhutanam -- of all living entities; asmi -- I am; cetana -- the living force.

Of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living force [consciousness].

rudranam -- of all the Rudras; sankarah -- Lord Shiva; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; vitta-isah -- the lord of the treasury of the demigods; yaksa-raksasam -- of the Yaksas and Raksasas; vasunam -- of the Vasus; pavakah -- fire; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; meruh -- Meru; sikharinam -- of all mountains; aham -- I am.

Of all the Rudras I am Lord Shiva, of the Yaksas and Raksasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera], of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru.

purodhasam -- of all priests; ca -- also; mukhyam -- the chief; mam -- Me; viddhi -- understand; partha -- O son of Prtha; brhaspatim -- Brhaspati; senaninam -- of all commanders; aham -- I am; skandah -- Kartikeya; sarasam -- of all reservoirs of water; asmi -- I am; sagarah -- the ocean.

Of priests, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Brhaspati. Of generals I am Kartikeya, and of bodies of water I am the ocean.

maha-rsinam -- among the great sages; bhrguh -- Bhrgu; aham -- I am; giram -- of vibrations; asmi -- I am; ekam aksaram -- pranava; yajnanam -- of sacrifices; japa-yajnah -- chanting; asmi -- I am; sthavaranam -- of immovable things; himalayah -- the Himalayan mountains.

Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental om. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas.

asvatthah -- the banyan tree; sarva-vrksanam -- of all trees; deva-rsinam -- of all the sages amongst the demigods; ca -- and; naradah -- Narada; gandharvanam -- of the citizens of the Gandharva planet; citrarathah -- Citraratha; siddhanam -- of all those who are perfected; kapilah munih -- Kapila Muni.

Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.

uccaihsravasam -- Uccaihsrava; asvanam -- among horses; viddhi -- know; mam -- Me; amrta-udbhavam -- produced from the churning of the ocean; airavatam -- Airavata; gaja-indranam -- of lordly elephants; naranam -- among human beings; ca -- and; nara-adhipam -- the king.

Of horses know Me to be Uccaihsrava, produced during the churning of the ocean for nectar. Of lordly elephants I am Airavata, and among men I am the monarch.

ayudhanam -- of all weapons; aham -- I am; vajram -- the thunderbolt; dhenunam -- of cows; asmi -- I am; kama-dhuk -- the surabhi cow; prajanah -- the cause for begetting children; ca -- and; asmi -- I am; kandarpah -- Cupid; sarpanam -- of serpents; asmi -- I am; vasukih -- Vasuki.

Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am the surabhi. Of causes for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love, and of serpents I am Vasuki.

anantah -- Ananta; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; naganam -- of the manyhooded serpents; varunah -- the demigod controlling the water; yadasam -- of all aquatics; aham -- I am; pitrnam -- of the ancestors; aryama -- Aryama; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; yamah -- the controller of death; samyamatam -- of all regulators; aham -- I am.

Of the many-hooded Nagas I am Ananta, and among the aquatics I am the demigod Varuna. Of departed ancestors I am Aryama, and among the dispensers of law I am Yama, the lord of death.

prahladah -- Prahlada; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; daityanam -- of the demons; kalah -- time; kalayatam -- of subduers; aham -- I am; mrganam -- of animals; ca -- and; mrga-indrah -- the lion; aham -- I am; vainateyah -- Garuda; ca -- also; paksinam -- of birds.

Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlada, among subduers I am time, among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda.

There are many subduing principles, but time wears down all things in the material universe and so represents Krishna. Of the many animals, the lion is the most powerful and ferocious, and of the million varieties of birds, Garuda, the bearer of Lord Vishnu, is the greatest.

pavanah -- the wind; pavatam -- of all that purifies; asmi -- I am; ramah -- Rama; sastra-bhrtam -- of the carriers of weapons; aham -- I am; jhasanam -- of all fish; makarah -- the shark; ca -- also; asmi -- I am; srotasam -- of flowing rivers; asmi -- I am; jahnavi -- the River Ganges.

Of purifiers I am the wind, of the wielders of weapons I am Rama, of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.

sarganam -- of all creations; adih -- the beginning; antah -- end; ca -- and; madhyam -- middle; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; aham -- I am; arjuna -- O Arjuna; adhyatma-vidya -- spiritual knowledge; vidyanam -- of all education; vadah -- the natural conclusion; pravadatam -- of arguments; aham -- I am.

Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth.

aksaranam -- of letters; a-karah -- the first letter; asmi -- I am; dvandvah -- the dual; samasikasya -- of compounds; ca -- and; aham -- I am; eva -- certainly; aksayah -- eternal; kalah -- time; dhata -- the creator; aham -- I am; visvatah-mukhah -- Brahma.

Of letters I am the letter A, and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahma.

mrtyuh -- death; sarva-harah -- all-devouring; ca -- also; aham -- I am; udbhavah -- generation; ca -- also; bhavisyatam -- of future manifestations; kirtih -- fame; srih -- opulence or beauty; vak -- fine speech; ca -- also; narinam -- of women; smrtih -- memory; medha -- intelligence; dhrtih -- firmness; ksama -- patience.

I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.

brhat-sama -- the Krhat-sama; tatha -- also; samnam -- of the Sama Veda songs; gayatri -- the Gayatri hymns; chandasam -- of all poetry; aham -- I am; masanam -- of months; marga-sirsah -- the month of November-December; aham -- I am; rtunam -- of all seasons; kusuma-akarah -- spring.

Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brhat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.

dyutam -- gambling; chalayatam -- of all cheats; asmi -- I am; tejah -- the splendor; tejasvinam -- of everything splendid; aham -- I am; jayah -- victory; asmi -- I am; vyavasayah -- enterprise or adventure; asmi -- I am; sattvam -- the strength; sattva-vatam -- of the strong; aham -- I am.

I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong.

vrsninam -- of the descendants of Vrsni; vasudevah -- Krishna in Dvaraka; asmi -- I am; pandavanam -- of the Pandavas; dhananjayah -- Arjuna; muninam -- of the sages; api -- also; aham -- I am; vyasah -- Vyasa, the compiler of all Vedic literature; kavinam -- of all great thinkers; usana -- Usana; kavih -- the thinker.

Of the descendants of Vrsni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana.

dan. dah -- punishment; damayatam -- of all means of suppression; asmi -- I am; nitih -- morality; asmi -- I am; jigisatam -- of those who seek victory; maunam -- silence; ca -- and; eva -- also; asmi -- I am; guhyanam -- of secrets; jnanam -- knowledge; jnana-vatam -- of the wise; aham -- I am.

Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment, and of those who seek victory I am morality. Of secret things I am silence, and of the wise I am the wisdom.

yat -- whatever; ca -- also; api -- may be; sarva-bhutanam -- of all creations; bijam -- seed; tat -- that; aham -- I am; arjuna -- O Arjuna; na -- not; tat -- that; asti -- there is; vina -- without; yat -- which; syat -- exists; maya -- Me; bhutam -- created being; cara-acaram -- moving and nonmoving.

Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being -- moving or nonmoving -- that can exist without Me.

na -- nor; antah -- a limit; asti -- there is; mama -- My; divyanam -- of the divine; vibhutinam -- opulences; parantapa -- O conqueror of the enemies; esah -- all this; tu -- but; uddesatah -- as examples; proktah -- spoken; vibhuteh -- of opulences; vistarah -- the expanse; maya -- by Me.

O mighty conqueror of enemies, there is no end to My divine manifestations. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite opulences.

yat yat -- whatever; vibhuti -- opulences; mat -- having; sattvam -- existence; sri-mat -- beautiful; urjitam -- glorious; eva -- certainly; va -- or; tat tat -- all those; eva -- certainly; avagaccha -- must know; tvam -- you; mama -- My; tejah -- of the splendor; amsa -- a part; sambhavam -- born of.

Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

atha va -- or; bahuna -- many; etena -- by this kind; kim -- what; jnatena -- by knowing; tava -- your; arjuna -- O Arjuna; vistabhya -- pervading; aham -- I; idam -- this; krtsnam -- entire; eka -- by one; amsena -- part; sthitah -- am situated; jagat -- universe.

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.