Chapter X.
Yet again, O you of mighty arms ! listen to my excellent 2 words, which, out of a wish for your welfare, I speak to you who are delighted (with them). Not the multitudes of gods, nor the great sages know my source ; for I am in every way 3 the origin of the gods and great sages. Of (all) mortals, he who knows me to be unborn, without beginning, the great lord of the world, being free from delusion, is released from all sins. Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, forgiveness, truth, restraintof thesenses, tranquillity, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, and also security, harmlessness, equability, contentment, penance, (making) gifts, glory, disgrace, all these different tempers 4 of living beings are from me alone. The seven great sages, and likewise the four ancient Manus 5, whose descendants are (all) these people in the world, were all born from my
mind, (partaking) of my powers. Whoever correctly knows these powers and emanations of mine, becomes possessed of devotion free from indecision ; of this (there is) no doubt. The wise, full of love 2, worship me, believing that I am the origin of all, and that all moves on through me. (Placing their) minds on me, offering (their) lives to me, instructing each other, and speaking about me, they are always contented and happy. To these, who are constantly devoted, and who worship with love, I give that knowledge by which they attain to me. And remaining in their hearts, I destroy, with the brilliant lamp of knowledge, the darkness born of ignorance in such (men) only, out of compassion for them.
Arjuna said : You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme goal, the holiest of the holy. All sages, as well as the divine sage Narada, Asita 3, Devala, and Vyasa, call you the eternal being, divine, the first god, the unborn, the all-pervading. And so, too, you tell me yourself, O Kesava ! I believe all this that you tell me (to be) true ; for, O lord ! neither the gods nor demons understand your manifestation 4. You only know your self by your self. O best of beings ! creator of all things ! lord of all things ! god of gods ! lord of the universe ! be pleased to declare without
exception your divine emanations, by which emanations you stand pe rvading all these worlds. How shall 1 know you, C) you of mystic power! always meditating on you ? And in what various entities, ( ) lord ! should I meditate on you ? Again, O Janardana ! do you yourself declare your powers and emanations ; because hearing this nectar, I (still) feel no satiety.
The Deity said : Well then, O best of Kauravas ! I will state to you my own divine emanations ; but (only) the chief (ones), for there is no end to the extent of my (emanations). I am the self, O Gudakesa ! seated in the hearts of all beings 2. I am the beginning and the middle and the end also of all beings. I am Vishnu among the Adityas 3, the beaming sun among the shining (bodies) ; I am Marichi among the Maruts 4, and the moon among the lunar mansions 5. Among the Vedas, I am the Sama-veda G. I am Indra among the gods. And I am mind among the senses 7. I am consciousness in (living) beings. And I am .Sankara 8 among the Rudras, the lord of wealth 9 among Yakshas and Rakshases. And I am fire among the Vasus, and Meru 30 among the high-
n As being, probably, full of music.
topped (mountains). And know me, O Arjuna ! to be Brzhaspati, the chief among domestic priests. I am Skanda among generals. I am the ocean among reservoirs of water 1. I am Bhrzgu among the great sages. I am the single syllable (Om -) among words. Among sacrifices I am the £apa sacrifice 3 ; the Himalaya among the firmly-fixed (mountains); the Asvattha 4 among all trees, and Narada among divine sages ; Chitraratha among the heavenly choristers, the sage Kapila among the Siddhas 5. Among horses know me to be Uchchaihsravas 6, brought forth by (the labours for) the nectar ; and Airavata among the great elephants, and the ruler of men among men 7. I am the thunderbolt among weapons, the wish-giving (cow) among cows. And I am love which generates 8. Among serpents I am Vasuki. Among Naga snakes I am Ananta ; I am Varuna among aquatic beings. And I am Aryaman among the manes, and Yama 10 among rulers. Among demons, too, I am Pralhada. I am the king of death (Kala, time) among those that count. Among beasts
I Cf. Sutta Nipata, p. 121. 2 Vide p. 79 supra.
c This is Indra's horse, brought out at the churning of the ocean. Airavata is Indra's elephant. 7 Cf. Sutta Nipata, p. 121.
II 'Counts the number of men's sins,' Ramanuja ; -Srtdhara says
9o
this refers to 'time, with its divisions into years, months/ &c. ; while a little further on it means 1 time eternal/
spring among the seasons 1 ; of cheats, I am the game of dice ; I am the glory of the glorious ; I am victory, I am industry, I am the goodness of the good. I am Vasudeva among the descendants of Vrishui, and Arjuna among the Pandavas. Among sages also, I am Vyasa 3 ; and among the discerning ones, I am the discerning Usanas. I am the rod of those that restrain, and the policy of those that desire victory. I am silence respecting secrets. I am the knowledge of those that have knowledge. And, O Arjuna ! I am also that which is the seed of all things. There is nothing movable or immovable which can exist without me. O terror of your foes ! there is no end to my divine emanations. Here I have declared the extent of (those) emanations only in part. Whatever thing (there is) of power, or glorious, or splendid, know all that to be produced from portions of my energy. Or rather, O Arjuna ! what have you to do, knowing all this at large ? I stand supporting all this by (but) a single portion (of myself) 6.
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b h agavadgItA.