MANIFESTATIONS OF DIVINITY (FROM BHAGAVADGITA)
The Gita, along with the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras, embodies the flights of spiritual thought and
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the great epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the great epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
In the following verses from the Gita, the Lord explains that
though He pervades the whole of creation and beyond, his majesties and divinity
are more manifest in some of his creations, both human and non-human like
animals, plants, rivers, mountains etc.
though He pervades the whole of creation and beyond, his majesties and divinity
are more manifest in some of his creations, both human and non-human like
animals, plants, rivers, mountains etc.
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च [१०.२0]
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी
[१०.२१]
[१०.२१]
वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः
इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चाऽस्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना [१०.२२]
रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम्
वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः
शिखरिणामहम् [१०.२३]
शिखरिणामहम् [१०.२३]
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि
पार्थ
ब्रुहस्पतिम्
पार्थ
ब्रुहस्पतिम्
सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः [१०.२४]
O Arjuna! I am the Atman
abiding in the heart of every living being. I am the beginning, the middle and
the end of all (10.20).
abiding in the heart of every living being. I am the beginning, the middle and
the end of all (10.20).
I am Vishnu among the Adityas, the radiant sun among the
light-givers, Marichi among the Maruts and the moon among the stars(10.21)
light-givers, Marichi among the Maruts and the moon among the stars(10.21)
Among the Vedas I am Sama Veda, among the Devas I am Indra, among the senses I am the mind, in all beings I
am the consciousness (awareness) (10.22)
am the consciousness (awareness) (10.22)
I am Sankara among Rudras, Kubera,
the God of riches, among yakshas
and rakshasas, Fire god among the Vasus and Meru among mountains.(10.23)
the God of riches, among yakshas
and rakshasas, Fire god among the Vasus and Meru among mountains.(10.23)
I am Brihaspati, among
priests, I am Skanda among leaders of
the army and the ocean among water bodies (10.24)
priests, I am Skanda among leaders of
the army and the ocean among water bodies (10.24)
महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम्
यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालयः [१०.२५]
अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः [१०.२६]
उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि
माममृतोद्भवम्
माममृतोद्भवम्
ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां
च नराधिपम् [१०.२७]
च नराधिपम् [१०.२७]
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक्
प्रजनश्चाऽस्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः [१०.२८]
अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो
यादसामहम्
यादसामहम्
पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम् [१०.२९]
I am Bhrigu among the maharshis,
‘OM’ among sacred syllables, Japa ygna (repetition
of the names of the Lord under a vow) among Yagnas and the Himalayas among
things immovable(10.25).
‘OM’ among sacred syllables, Japa ygna (repetition
of the names of the Lord under a vow) among Yagnas and the Himalayas among
things immovable(10.25).
I am aswatha ( the holy
fig tree) among trees, Narada among
the celestial rishis, chitraratha among gandharvas and Kapila among siddhas
(10.26)
fig tree) among trees, Narada among
the celestial rishis, chitraratha among gandharvas and Kapila among siddhas
(10.26)
.
I am uchaishravas which
arose from the milky ocean which was being churned for nectar, airavatam among elephants and the king
among men. (10.27)
arose from the milky ocean which was being churned for nectar, airavatam among elephants and the king
among men. (10.27)
Among weapons I am vajrayudha, Kamadhenu among cows, Kama
among procreators and Vasuki among snakes (10.28)
among procreators and Vasuki among snakes (10.28)
Among serpents I am Ananta, Varuna among water-beings, Aryama among the
departed souls, Yama among those who discipline beings (10.29).
प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः
कलयतामहम्
कलयतामहम्
मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् [१०.३०]
पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः
शस्त्रभृतामहं
शस्त्रभृतामहं
झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जान्हवी [१०.३१]
सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन
अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः
प्रवदतामहम् [१०.३२]
प्रवदतामहम् [१०.३२]
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च
अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताऽहं
विश्वतोमुखः [१०.३३]
विश्वतोमुखः [१०.३३]
मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम्
कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां
स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा [१०.३४]
स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा [१०.३४]
Among Asuras I am Prahlada, among those who measure
(count) I am Time, among animals I am the lion and among birds I am Garuda (10.30).
(count) I am Time, among animals I am the lion and among birds I am Garuda (10.30).
I am the wind among purifiers, Rama among warriors, the shark among
fish and the Ganges among rivers(10.31),
fish and the Ganges among rivers(10.31),
I am the beginning, the middle, and the end in creation. I am the knowledge of things spiritual. I am the logic of those who debate (10.32)
In the alphabet I am ‘A’. In compounds (samasa ) I am dwandwa. I
am time without end. I am the Sustainer
and my face is everywhere (10.33).
am time without end. I am the Sustainer
and my face is everywhere (10.33).
I am death that snatches all. I
am the source of all that shall be born. I am glory, prosperity, beautiful speech,
memory, intelligence, steadfastness and forgiveness (10.34 )
am the source of all that shall be born. I am glory, prosperity, beautiful speech,
memory, intelligence, steadfastness and forgiveness (10.34 )
बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां
गायत्री
छन्दसामहं
गायत्री
छन्दसामहं
मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः [१०.३५]
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्
जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं
सत्त्ववतामहम् [१०.३६]
सत्त्ववतामहम् [१०.३६]
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः
मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः [१०.३७]
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम्
मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् [१०.३८]
यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं
तदहमर्जुन
तदहमर्जुन
न तदस्ति विना
यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम् [१०.३९]
यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम् [१०.३९]
नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परंतप
एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया [१०.४०]
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा
तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसंभवम् [१०.४१]
अथवा किमुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन
तवार्जुन
तवार्जुन
विष्ठभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो
जगत्
[१०.४२]
जगत्
[१०.४२]
I am the great Sama of the Vedic hymns, Gayatri among poetic
metres, Margashirsha among months, Vasanta, the time of flowers, among seasons
(10.35).
metres, Margashirsha among months, Vasanta, the time of flowers, among seasons
(10.35).
I am the dice-play of the cunning and the strength of the strong. I am triumph,
perseverance and the purity of the good(10.36).
perseverance and the purity of the good(10.36).
I am Krishna among the Vrishnis,
Arjuna among the Pandavas, Vyasa among the sages and Ushana among the
illumined poets (10.37)
Arjuna among the Pandavas, Vyasa among the sages and Ushana among the
illumined poets (10.37)
I am the sceptre and the mastery of those who rule, the strategy of
those who seek to conquer, the silence of things secret and the knowledge of
the knower (10.38)
those who seek to conquer, the silence of things secret and the knowledge of
the knower (10.38)
O Arjuna! I am the divine seed of all lives. In this world, nothing
animate or inanimate exists without me (10.39).
animate or inanimate exists without me (10.39).
There is no limit to my divine manifestations, nor can they be
numbered. What I have described to you
are only a few of my countless forms (10.40)
numbered. What I have described to you
are only a few of my countless forms (10.40)
Whatever in this world is glorious,
beautiful or powerful, that you may know to have come forth from a
fraction of my power and glory (10.41).
O Arjuna, What need have you to know this huge variety. Know only that I exist, and that one atom of myself sustains the whole universe.
(10.42)
beautiful or powerful, that you may know to have come forth from a
fraction of my power and glory (10.41).
O Arjuna, What need have you to know this huge variety. Know only that I exist, and that one atom of myself sustains the whole universe.
(10.42)
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