Chapter 10.1 Vibhuti Yoga (Yoga of the Divine Glories) Slokas 1-18
The tenth chapter is called Vibhuti Yoga, (Yoga of the Divine Glories). Here, Bhagavan Krishna tells Arjuna, that a person who knows Him as unborn and beginningless, is liberated from all sins. Bhagavan further explains that even the devas and the rishis do not know of His origin. Arjuna showers praises on the Lord and requests Him to guide him as to how he can constantly meditate upon the Lord. He also requests Bhagavan Krishna to describe in detail as to what forms he should meditate upon Him. As per His devotee’s wishes, the Lord describes His Divine Glories in extensive detail.
1. The Blessed Lord said:
Again, O mighty armed! Listen to My supreme words: which I, wishing your welfare, will declare to you, who is delighted to hear Me.
2. Neither the hosts of the heavens, nor the great rishis know My origin; for, in every way, I am the source of the devas and the great rishis.
3. Yo maam ajam anaadim ca vetti loka-maheshvaram
Asammudah sa martyeshu sarvapaapaih pramucyate
He who among the mortals, knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds—he, is undeluded, is liberated from all sins.
This chapter called Vibhuti yoga (Yoga of the Divine Glories), starts with Bhagavan Krishna emphasizing to Arjuna that He is focused on the welfare of His devotee Arjuna (who represents us). Further, He praises Arjuna as the devotee, who is happy just to listen to Him.
Sri Krishna declares that none of the great rishis or the devas know of His origin, and He is the source of the devas and the great rishis.
Bhagavan says that he is “unborn” (ajam), “beginningless” (anaadhi) and “the Supreme Lord” (loka-maheshvaram). Sri Krishna says that those, who know of His origin, will not be deluded and will be liberated from all sins.
Bhagavan Krishna also says that they will not be deluded. So, what is delusion?
“To see a thing as something other than what it actually is, is called delusion” - Swami Chinmayananda
The word “sin” can be explained in simple terms as an action that is not conforming with the recommendation of our scriptures and the societal norms (an action that does not follow what the society at that period of time considers as the right way to behave).
A sin is also an action that goes against the commandments of the Upanishads and other scriptures. For example, Taittiriya Upanishad declares, “Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Athithi devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava”. (May you (treat) your mother as God, May you (treat) your father as God, May you (treat) your guest as God, May you (treat) your teacher as God). If someone does otherwise, they will be committing sin as per our scriptures.
Swami Chinmayanandaji says, “we are punished by our sins and not for our sins”. What I understand from this statement is that the person who committed the sins will consciously or subconsciously regret all their life what they did. It will mentally affect that person in their daily life. Also, sin will be an obstacle for that person in his (or her) quest in spiritual progress and from reaching God unless that person does some form of “Praayacchittham” (remedial action).
This “Law of karma” is one of the hallmarks of Hinduism. Whatever action, good or bad, will bear fruits (results). The results of the actions from previous births and this birth can occur during this birth or future births unless those actions are taken for the benefit of the society in a selfless manner (karma yoga) and dedicated to the Lord. If actions are done with the spirit of karma yoga, no further vaasanaas (mental impressions) will be formed and previous vaasanaas will also be melted away and the person attains moksha.
What qualities of a human being arise from the Lord?
buddhir jnanam asammohah ksama satyam damah samah
sukham duhkham bhavo ’bhavo bhayam caa ‘bhayam eva ca
Intellect, wisdom, freedom from delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, self-restraint, control of the mind, happiness and sadness, birth or death, fear and also fearlessness.
5. Nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy all these different qualities of living beings arise from Me alone.
Sri Krishna says here that all of the above-mentioned qualities arise from Him alone. Some of the above positive qualities also serve as guidance for the devotee in their “sadhana” (spiritual journey).
6. The seven great rishis and before them the four ancient Manus come from Me, born of my mind, and from them have come forth all the creatures in the world.
The seven great rishis (Saptha rishis) are Bhrigu, Marichi, Atri, Pula, Pulastaya, Kratu and Angiras. The four Manus (progenitors of mankind) are Svarochisha, Svayambhu, Raivata and Uttama. They are born of the Lord, via the mind of Brahmaji, the creator. Brahmaji (Prajapathi) is considered as one of the “trimurthis” (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The four Manus are responsible for the orderly functioning of the entire creation.
What benefit does the devotee get by knowing the structure of the cosmos and its orderly functioning?
These are explained in slokas 7-9
Sloka 7-9
7. He, who in truth, knows these manifold manifestations of My being (macrocosm) and (this) yoga power of mine (microcosm), becomes established in the “unshakable yoga”; there is no doubt about it.
The light in the light bulb, the radio and the television come to life because the electricity powers them. In the same way, the body, mind and intellect equipments operate since the Purusha (Consciousness) enlivens them. The “wise” man understands this and does not separate himself from God. Therefore, his union (yoga) with God becomes “unshakable”.
“A lamp cannot burn without oil. Even so, man cannot be without God” – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
8. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
Iti matvaa bhajante maam budhaa bhaava samanvitaaha
I am the source of all; from Me everything evolves; the “wise” know this and worship Me with all their hearts.
9. With their minds fixed on Me, with their senses absorbed in Me, enlightening each other and always speaking of Me, they are satisfied and delighted.
Bhagavan Krishna says here that the “wise “people know that He is the source of everything. Knowing this, the “wise” people worship him with all their hearts. Then, with their mind always fixed on the Lord, and senses absorbed in Him, always talk about Bhagavan and His Glories and they are happy as well as satisfied just by enumerating the stories of the Lord and his incarnations.
A person maybe well educated in science, arts or sports and excel in their chosen field. However, if they are not aware of their destination in life, and do not take the necessary steps to reach their destination (of reaching God) while living, then they are considered as “unwise” as per our scriptures. Those who keep their primary goal as “merging with the Lord while living” (Jeevan mukthi) and execute that plan through sadhanas (spiritual practices like bhakti yoga, karma yoga or jnana yoga), would be considered as “wise” people as per Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads.
In Katopanishad, Lord Yama says that two paths approach each person in their lives. They are “Shreyas” (the path of the Good - seeking God) and “preyas” (the path of the “pleasant” – seeking sense gratification). The “wise” man chooses Shreyas. Others choose preyas. The problem, says the Upanishad, is that if one choses preyas, it tastes good in the beginning and ends up as poison in the end. (It is detrimental to our physical and spiritual health in the end).
How does the Lord reward these “wise” people? The answer follows.
10. To them, ever devoted to worshipping Me with love, I give the yoga of discrimination (Buddhi Yoga), by which they come to Me.
11. Out of mere compassion for them, dwelling within their hearts, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the luminous lamp of Knowledge.
To those devotees. who worship the Lord with love, the Lord in return, gives them the yoga of discrimination (leading to a greater understanding of God’s Glory), which he calls here as “Buddhi Yoga”. This yoga, in turn, helps the devotee to reach the Lord.
Arjuna praises Lord Krishna in slokas 12 - 18
12. Arjuna uvaca:
Param brahma param dhaama pavitram paramam bhavaan
Purusham saasvatam divyam aadi-devam ajam vibhum
Arjuna said, “You are the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Abode, the Supreme purifier, the Eternal, divine Purusha, the Primeval deity, the God of all Gods, the Unborn, the Omnipresent.”
13. All the Rishis have thus declared You, as also Deva-Rishi Narada, so also Asita, Devala and Vyasa, and now You Yourself is declaring it to me.
14. O Kesava, I believe as true all that You say to me. Neither the Devas nor the Danavas, O Lord, verily know your manifestation.
15. Verily, You alone know Yourself by Yourself, O Purushottama, O Source of beings, O Lord of beings, O God of gods, O Ruler of the world!
16. You should, indeed without reserve, tell me in detail of Your divine glories by which You exist pervading all these worlds.
17. How shall I, constantly meditating, know You, O Yogin? In what various aspects or forms, O Blessed Lord, are You to be thought of by me?
18. Tell me again in detail, O Janardana, of your yoga-power and immanent glory; for I am not satisfied by hearing Your nectar like speech.
From slokas 12-18, Arjuna praises Lord Krishna profusely as the supreme purifier (pavitram paramam) and God of gods. In Vishnu Sahasranaamam also, Bhagavan is referred to as purifier. This is because He cleanses our sins when we worship Him.
Arjuna further says that the Devarishi Narada and others know the manifestation of the Lord but not the devas and daanavas (descendants of Danu). But since only the Lord Knows the extent of His own Glories, Arjuna requests Sri Krishna to tell him in detail His manifestations and how He pervades the entire universe. He also wants to know how he can constantly meditate upon the Lord and in what forms.
Arjuna concludes by saying that he is not satisfied by just hearing Lord Krishna’s “nectar like” speech. He wants Bhagavan to elaborate further. Raja Parikshit in Shrimad Bhagavatam also asked Sukadev to give more details about God and the devotees of God many times during the narration of Bhagavatam and it is said that Sukadev was very pleased with his student.
May God shower His Grace on all of us to become great bhaktas like Arjuna and Raja Parikshit and want more “satsang” (association with good people and discussions centered on God and Self Realized saints and their life and message).
So far, in the tenth chapter called Vibhuti Yoga (Yoga of the Divine Glories), Bhagavan Krishna tells Arjuna that a person who knows him as unborn and beginningless, is liberated from all sins. Bhagavan further explains that even the devas and the rishis do not know of His origin. Arjuna praises the Lord and requests Him to guide him as to how he can constantly meditate upon the Lord and in what forms he should meditate upon him. In the rest of this chapter, the Lord responds by describing His Divine Glories in extensive detail.
We will see those details in 10.2 and 10.3.
Hari Om!
Dr. Shanmugam