Bhagvad-Gita: Treatise of self-help by BS Murthy                                                                       <<Back to Chapter 9 Chapter-10: Discern the Divine   This intriguing chapter of 42 slokas, known as vibhooti yoga, Glories of the Supreme, characterizes the Omnipresence of the Supreme Spirit.Well, for general human understanding, Lord Krishna identifies the best in heaven and earth that represent all that is glorious about Him. One might note that His averment that sama veda and tapo yagjna, meditative prayer, symbolize the glory of the Supreme was cited in the introduction to the third chapter. In the context of what Lord Krishna enumerates as symbolic of the ‘Glory of the Supreme Spirit’, it is interesting to note that He’s the sovereign in humans in s27 but not Rama as one would have expected. However, Lord Rama enters the Hall of Fame as the first amongst the archers (s31). Going by the dispassionate outlook towards life that Lord Krishna expostulates, it is but natural that Lord Rama who personifies attachment to the values of his time is not reckoned as the Glory of  the Supreme Spirit. It is another matter that in the Hindu religio-cultural ethos, Lord Rama is revered as purushottama, the noblest human.   1      Thus spoke the Lord: Ear thy lend My words peerless Bound they regale as thee gain. 2      Sourced though gods ’n seers in Me Grasp they have none of My source. 3      Me as Lord of all who sees Turns his back on wrongdoings.  4      Sourced in Me all faculties  State of mind of beings too. 5          Varied I made vicissitudes  As the case with attitudes. 6      Willed I birth of progenitors all Seven seers great ’n elders four Not to mention sovereign fourteen.  7      Grasps as one the power of Mine Keeps he would his mind then firm. 8 Who this gets in My worship Tends he then to turn to Me. 9      Whoso to Me thus taken Delight he takes in praising Me. 10    Him I help to realize that Which is needed to reach Me. 11    Doubts I dispel his for good Grant I wisdom to his thought. 12 Thus spoke Arjuna: O Lord Thou, Supreme Brahman Abode Ultimate, Purifier Primordial Indweller Permanent ’n God Primeval. 13    That’s how sages down the ages Narada foremost described Thee, Affirmed Asita, Devala ’n Vyasa All of that Thou confirm now. 14    None can ever be sure of Thee Hold I true thus what Thou say. 15    God of gods O Lord of all, Thou but know Self Thy true. 16        Pray Thee confide Thy nature  With which Thou all worlds transcend. 17    How to grasp all aspects Thine, How to engage Thee in mind? 18    Make me privy, O, My Lord Forms ’n attributes of Thyself. 19    Thus spoke the Lord: Of all countless Glories Mine Suffice thee knew a few of them. 20    I’m the Self of one and all I’m the beginning as well end Not to speak of in between. 21 Vishnu Am of all deities  Sun the luminous of luminous Mareechi Am immortal  As well moon the star of stars.  22    I am the Sama of Vedas  It’s Me Indra, god of gods Of all organs, mind is Me And so life in all beings. 23    Shankar Am the Lord of Lords  Kubera, richest of Yakshas Of the Vasus know Am Fire And Am Meru, peak foremost. 24    In those echelons ruled by gods  It’s Me Bruhaspathi priest of priests, Marshal that great Skand on earth Besides the ocean among the seas.             25                  So Am ‘Om’ that sound supreme, Of rituals Am prayer muted  Himalayas high that kiss the skies. 26    I’m the fig, the tree foremost And so heavenly sage Narad, Maestro divine Chitraradh Am Besides Kapila, the sage attained. 27    Uchhaisravas, Am horse foremost  Nectar that was churned in seas Airavat white, Indra’s elephant   Sovereign whoso crowns mankind. 28    Vajrayudh Am weapon mighty Kamadhenu the cow holy Cupid who aids to sustain life Vasuki the fierce king serpent. 29    It’s Me Ananth of Nagas Varun I am of aquatics, It’s Me Aryama, mane of manes Yama the ruler of beings. 30    Prahlad Am, the demon godly Among the reckoners, I’m the Time  It’s Me lion, of wildlife all  As well Garud that rules the skies. 31 I’m the wind that purifies all Among the archers Ram I’m I'm the shark that mighty fish And the Ganges, ever in flow. 32 Hinge I am that holds all worlds Source is Me of spiritual thought Of Vedanta, I’m pro contra. 33    Alpha Am of alphabets all Likeness I’m in like compounds I’m the time of endlessness  It’s Me Brahma of four heads. 34        I’m the death that devours all As well brings forth that beings Besides what makes woman’s glory. 35    Am Sama the grand octane  Like none metre Gayathri,  Margasir pleasant month I am As well splendid spring season. 36    I’m the splendour of splendrous Besides fraud in dice as well I'm the goodness in great souls Effort that takes to succeed well.  37    It’s Me Vasudev of Yadavs    Of the Pandavs thou art Me, Know Am Vyasa of sages Poet Laureate, Sukra great. 38    Justice I'm in every court Policy Am of all conquest, Secret I’m of every mute Wisdom Am of what is wise. 39    I’m the seed of all beings From Me apart none exists.   40    Endless are My attributes This brief is for just thy grasp. 41    All that’s glorious all therein Is but spark of My splendour.  42    O dear friend need there none to delve in full   Suffice to say it’s portion Mine that supports all.   Ends thus: Discern the Divine, The Tenth Chapter Of Bhagavad-Gita, Treatise of self-help.    (cont...)  <<Back to Chapter 9 Introduction  Chapter 1   Chapter 2    Chapter 3    Chapter 4    Chapter 5    Chapter 6  Chapter 7  Chapter 8    Chapter 9   Chapter 10 Chapter 11   Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14  Chapter 15  Chapter 16  Chapter 17  Chapter 18 Hinduism main page