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 Sãma 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
Nãrada foremost described Thee,
Affirmed Asita, Devala ’n Vyãsã
All of that now Thou confirm.
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
Mãreechi Am immortal
As well moon the star of stars.
22
I am the Sãma of Vedas
It’s Me Indrã, god of gods
Of all organs, mind is Me
And so life in all beings.
23
Shankar Am the Lord of Lords
Kuberã, richest of Yakshãs
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
Bhrugur I am the well-realized
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 Nãrad,
Maestro divine Chitraradh Am
Besides Kapila, the sage attained.
27
Uchhaisravas, Am horse foremost
Nectar that was churned in seas
Airãvat white, Indrã’s elephant
Sovereign whoso crowns mankind.
28
Vajrãyudh Am weapon mighty
Kãmadhenu the cow holy
Cupid who aids to sustain life
Vãsuki the fierce king serpent.
29
It’s Me Ananth of Nãgãs
Varun I am of aquatics,
It’s Me Aryamã, mane of manes
Yama the ruler of beings.
30
Prahlãd 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 Rãm 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 Sãma the grand octane
Like none metre Gãyathri,
Mãrgasir 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 Vyãsa 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.
