BG 10 (1968)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
X
THE OPULENCE OF THE ABSOLUTE
1: THE SUPREME LORD SAID: Again, O Mighty-armed Arjuna, listen to My supreme word, which I shall impart to you for your benefit and which will give you great joy.
PURPORT
PARASARMUNI, the great sage, explains that one who is complete in the six opulences of full beauty, strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, and renunciation is called Paramam, or the Supreme Godhead. Krishna displayed all these opulences while on this earth. Now Krishna is about to impart knowledge to Arjuna about His opulences and work. Beginning with the Seventh Chapter, the Lord has been explaining His different energies and how they interact. In the previous chapter He clearly explained His different energies in order to establish firm devotion to Him. Now, He is explaining His various opulences in detail. As one hears about the Supreme God, one becomes fixed in devotional service, and, therefore, hearing of the Lord's opulences is important. Such discourses should best be held in a society of devotees who are anxious to advance in Krishna consciousness.
2: Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin; for, in every respect, I am the Source of the demigods and the sages.
PURPORT
IT IS ALSO STATED in The Brahma Samhita that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord, the Cause of all causes. The great sages and demigods cannot understand Krishna, His Name, Personality, etc., and certainly mundane scholars cannot begin to comprehend Him. No one can understand why this Supreme comes to earth as an ordinary human being and executes such wonderful and uncommon activities. Even the demigods and great sages have tried to understand Krishna by mental speculation, but have failed. They can speculate to the extent that imperfect senses will allow them, but they cannot really understand Him in this way. Here, Krishna states that He is the Supreme Godhead, eternal, and that He can be understood by studying His words in The Gita and The Srimad Bhagwatam. Those involved in the inferior energy of the Lord (matter) can begin to understand something of the impersonal Brahman, but the Personality of Godhead cannot be conceived unless one is in the transcendental position. Because men cannot understand the Supreme Godhead, He descends out of His causeless mercy. The devotees of the Lord surrender unto Krishna and are thus able to understand Him, but those who endlessly speculate remain ignorant of His true position.
3: He who knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds—he, undeluded among men, is freed from all sins.
4-5: Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, self-control and calmness, pleasure and pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, non-violence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy are created by Me alone.
PURPORT
IN THIS VERSE, intelligence means the power to analyze things in their proper perspective. Knowledge means to understand what is spirit and what is matter. This knowledge is not the ordinary knowledge acquired in universities, but transcendental knowledge. In modern education there is a paucity of spiritual knowledge—knowledge is unfortunately confined to materialism and bodily needs, and is therefore incomplete. Spiritual knowledge is necessary in order for one to be free from doubt and delusion. Nothing should be accepted blindly, but with care and caution. One should practice tolerance and forgive the minor offenses of others. Truthfulness means that facts should not be misrepresented, but should be presented fully, for the benefit of others. Socially, people say that one should speak the truth only when it is palatable to others, but that is not truthfulness. One should always speak the truth, even though it may seem unpalatable at the time. Self-control means that the senses should not be utilized for unnecessary personal enjoyment. Sense indulgence deters spiritual development. Similarly, the mind should not engage in unnecessary thoughts, nor should it dwell on the objects of the senses. One should not spend one's time pondering over how to make money. One's thinking powers should be developed in association with those who are authorities on the scriptures: saintly persons and spiritual masters and men whose thinking is highly developed. Pleasure, or happiness, should always be in that which is favorable for the cultivation of spiritual knowledge, or Krishna consciousness. Similarly, that which is painful is that which is unfavorable for the cultivation of such knowledge. Whatever is favorable for the development of Krishna consciousness should be accepted, and what is unfavorable should be rejected. Birth, as mentioned in this verse, is in reference to the body. As far as the soul is concerned, there is neither birth nor death. Birth and death apply to one's embodiment in the material world. Fearfulness results from worrying over the future. A person in Krishna consciousness has no fear because his activities assure him of going to the spiritual sky, back to Godhead. When one has no knowledge of the next life, then he is in anxiety. Fearfulness is due to one's absorption in illusory energy, but when one is free from illusory energy and certain that he is not the material body, then he has nothing to fear. Therefore, if one is always situated in Krishna consciousness, he does not fear, for his future is very bright. Nonviolence means that one should not do anything that will put others into misery or confusion. The human body is meant for spiritual realization, and anyone who does not further this end commits violence on the body. Equanimity refers to freedom from attachment and aversion. A person in Krishna consciousness has nothing to accept or reject unless it is useful for prosecuting this consciousness. Satisfaction means that one should not be eager to acquire more and more material goods by unnecessary activity. One should be satisfied with whatever is obtained by the Grace of the Supreme Lord. Austerity and penance refer to the Vedic rules and regulations, such as rising early, taking baths, etc. Although some of these rules may be troublesome, one should practice them. The trouble that is suffered is called penance, or austerity. As for charity, one should give up half of what he earns to a good cause, such as the advancement of Krishna consciousness, or to those engaged in the cultivation of spiritual knowledge for the dissemination of such knowledge. Real fame is attributed to one who is known to be a great devotee, and infamy is due to the lack of such devotion.
All these are manifest throughout the universe in human society, and in the society of the demigods. Krishna gives man these qualities and attributes, but man develops them from within, and advances in Krishna consciousness accordingly. One who engages in Krishna consciousness develops all the good qualities automatically. We should realize that all qualities—good or bad—have their origin in Krishna. Nothing can be manifest in the material world which is not in Krishna.
6: The seven great sages, and, before them, the four Manus [progenitors of Mankind] are born out of My Mind, and all creatures in these planets descend from them.
PURPORT
BRAHMA IS THE ORIGINAL creature born out of the energy of the Supreme Lord, and from Brahma all the great seven sages, and before them the Manus, are manifest. These are all known as the patriarchs of living entities all over the universe. There are innumerable varieties of population on each planet; and all of them are born of these patriarchs. They, in turn, all descend from Brahma, who is born out of the energy of Krishna, the Supreme Godhead.
7: He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt.
8: I am the source of everything; from Me the entire creation flows. Knowing this, the wise worship Me with all their hearts.
9: Their thoughts dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss, enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
PURPORT
PURE DEVOTEES, whose characteristics are mentioned here, engage themselves fully in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Their minds cannot be diverted from the Lotus Feet of Krishna. Their talks are solely transcendental. Twenty-four hours daily, they glorify the Pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Their hearts and souls constantly submerged in Krishna, they take pleasure in discussing Him with other devotees. In the preliminary stage of devotional service they relish transcendental pleasure from the service itself; and in the mature stage they are situated in love of God and can relish the highest perfection which is exhibited by the Lord in His Abode. Lord Chaitanya likens transcendental devotional service to the sowing of a seed in the heart of the living entity. One travels throughout the universe before he is finally fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee who transmits the transcendenta1 seed of the Maha Mantra, the Great Chanting for Deliverance: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare; and with the water of devotional service this seed fructifies. The spiritual plant of devotional service grows and grows and pierces the sky of the material universe, and enters into the Brahmajyoti, the effulgence in the spiritual sky. It finally grows until it reaches the highest spiritual planet, Goloka Vrindaban, the Supreme Planet of Krishna. Ultimately, the plant takes shelter there under the Lotus Feet of Krishna, where it gradually sprouts fruits and flowers. And the chanting and hearing, which is the watering process, continues. Once the plant has taken shelter of the Supreme Lord, it becomes fully absorbed in love of God and cannot live without His contact for a moment, as a fish cannot live without water. All this is explained in The Chaitanya Charitamrita. The Srimad Bhagwatam is also rich with stories of the relationships between devotees and the Lord, and these relationships are fully described in this work. The realized souls take pleasure in hearing these stories.
10: To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.
11: Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.
PURPORT
WHEN LORD CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU was in Benares and promulgating the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, thousands of people were following him. Prakasananda, a great scholar in Benares at the time, derided Lord Chaitanya for being a sentimentalist. Typically, some philosophers criticize the devotees for sentimentalism and philosophical naivete. But this was not the case with Lord Chaitanya, Who was a great scholar, and Who taught the philosophy of devotion. If the spiritual master does not educate the devotee in spiritual knowledge, the Supreme Godhead will do so. Therefore, a person who is in pure Krishna consciousness is not in ignorance. The Lord is telling Arjuna in this verse that there is no possibility of understanding the Supreme Absolute Truth simply by speculating, because It lies beyond man's reasoning powers. Man can speculate for millions of years, but if he is not a devoted lover of the Supreme Truth, his speculation will be in vain. But by devotional service, the Supreme Truth, which is the Personality of Godhead, is pleased; and He reveals Himself to the heart of the pure devotee by His inconceivable potency. The pure devotee always has Krishna within his heart, and therefore he is just like the sun that dissipates the darkness of ignorance. This is special mercy rendered to the pure devotee by the Supreme Lord. Due to the contamination of material association, through many millions of births, one's heart is always covered with the dust of materialism; but when one engages in devotional service and chants Hare Krishna, the dust quickly clears and one is elevated to the platform of pure knowledge. This platform can be reached only by devotional service, and not by speculation or argumentation. When the darkness of ignorance is removed, the Supreme Lord takes charge and the devotee has no worries. This is the essence of The Gita's teaching. By studying The Gita one comes to surrender completely to the Supreme Lord and engages in His service. As the Lord takes charge, he becomes free.
12-13: Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the Ultimate, the Supreme Abode and Purifier, the Absolute Truth and the Eternal Divine Person. You are the Primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the Unborn and All-pervading Beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.
14: O Krishna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy Personality.
15: Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own potencies, O Origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, O Supreme Person, Lord of the Universe!
16: Please tell me in detail of Your divine powers, by which You pervade all these worlds and abide in them.
PURPORT
ARJUNA HAS KNOWLEDGE of Krishna through Krishna's Grace, but here he is asking Krishna to explain His all-pervading Nature because there are others who do not understand it. The all-pervading nature is not the totality of the Divinity, but is sustained by His divine powers and energies. This question is being asked by Arjuna in order that the common people might understand in the future.
17: How should I meditate on You? In what various forms are You to be contemplated, O Blessed Lord?
18: Tell me again in detail, O Janardana [Krishna], of Your mighty potencies and glories, for I never tire of hearing Your ambrosial words.
19: The Blessed Lord said: Yes, I will tell you of My splendorous manifestations; but only of those which are prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless.
20: I am the Self, O Conqueror of sleep, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
21: Of the Adityas I am Vishnu; of lights I am the radiant sun; I am Marichi of the Maruts; and among the stars I am the moon.
PURPORT
THERE ARE TWELVE ADITYAS, of which Krishna is the principal. Among all the luminaries twinkling in the sky, the sun is the chief, and in The Brahma Samhita the sun is accepted as the glowing effulgence of the Supreme Lord. Marichi is the controlling deity of the heavenly spaces.
22: Of the Vedas I am the Samaveda; of the demigods I am Indra; of the senses I am the mind, and in living beings I am consciousness.
23: Of all the Rudras I am Lord Shiva; of the Yakshas and Rakshasas I am the lord of wealth [Kuvera]; of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru.
PURPORT
THERE ARE ELEVEN Rudras of which Shankara, Lord Shiva, is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord and is in charge of the modes of ignorance in the material universe. Kuvera is a master treasurer and a representative of the Supreme Lord. Meru is a mountain famed for its rich natural resources.
24: Of priests, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Brihashpati, the lord of devotion. Of generals I am Skanda, the lord of war; and of bodies of water I am the ocean.
PURPORT
INDRA IS THE CHIEF DEMIGOD of all planets and is known as the king of the heavens. Brihashpati is Indra's priest and is, therefore, the chief of all priests. Similarly Skanda and Lord Shiva are the chiefs of all military commanders. And of all bodies of water, the ocean is the greatest. These representations of Krishna only give hints of His greatness.
25: Of the great sages I am Bhrigu; of vibrations I am the transcendental Om. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the Holy Names [Japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas.
PURPORT
BRAHMA, THE FIRST living creature within the universe, created several sons for the propagation of various kinds of species. The most powerful among his sons is Bhrigu, who is the greatest sage. Of all transcendental vibrations, Om (the Omkara) is the representation of Krishna. Of all sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the purest representation of Krishna. Whatever is sublime in the worlds is a representation of Krishna. Therefore, the Himalayas, the greatest mountains, also represent Him. The mountain named Meru was mentioned in a previous verse, but Meru is movable. In contrast, the Himalayas are immovable and so are mentioned here.
26: Of all trees I am the holy fig tree, and amongst sages and demigods I am Narada. Of the singers of the demigods [Gandharvas] I am Chitraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.
PURPORT
THE FIG TREE (Asvattha) is one of the most beautiful and tallest trees, and people in India often worship it as one of their daily morning rituals. Amongst the demigods they also worship Narada, who is considered the greatest of demigods in the universe. Therefore, these are considered as representations of Krishna. The Gandharva planets are filled with entities who sing beautifully, and among them the best singer is Chitraratha. Kapila is considered an incarnation of Krishna, and his philosophy is given in The Srimad Bhagwatam.
27: Of horses know Me to be Ucchaisrava, who rose out of the ocean, born of the elixir of immortality; of lordly elephants I am Airavata, and among men I am the monarch.
PURPORT
THE DEVOTEE DEMIGODS and the asura demons once took a sea journey. On this journey, nectar and poison were produced and Lord Shiva drank the poison. From the nectar were produced many entities of which there was a nice horse named Ucchaisrava. This horse was a representation of Krishna. Another animal produced from the nectar was an elephant named Airavata, who was also a representation of Krishna. These animals have special significance because they were produced from nectar. Kings are mentioned here because at one time they were appointed due to their godly qualifications, and were truly superior men. Kings like Maharaj Parikshit or Lord Rama were highly righteous and always considered their subjects' welfare. Therefore, in Vedic literature, the king is considered the representative of God. With the corruption of the principles of religion in the Age of Kali, monarchy decayed and has been largely abolished. People were much happier, however, under a righteous and godly king.
28: Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am Kamadhuk, giver of abundant milk. Of procreators I am Kandarpa, the god of love; and of serpents I am Vasuki, the chief.
PURPORT
THE THUNDERBOLT, indeed a mighty weapon, is a representation of Krishna's power. In Krishnaloka, in the spiritual sky, there is a cow called the Surabhi cow which can give a limitless supply of milk. In this supreme planet, the Lord is engaged in herding these Surabhi cows. Kandarpa is the god of love, the procreator. Of course, procreation is for begetting good children; otherwise it is considered sense gratification. When sex is not for sense gratification, it is the representation of Krishna.
29: Of the celestial Naga snakes I am Ananta; of the aquatic deities I am Varuna. Of departed ancestors I am Aryama, and among the dispensers of law I am Yama, lord of death.
PURPORT
AMONG THE MANY celestial Naga snakes, Ananta is the greatest, as is Varuna among the aquatics. They both represent Krishna. There is also a planet of trees presided over by Aryama, who represents Krishna. And Yama dispenses punishment to miscreants who are sent to the hellish planets. Those who are very sinful in their earth life have to undergo different kinds of punishment on hellish planets. This punishment, however, is not eternal.
30: Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlada; among subduers I am Time; among the beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda, the feathered carrier of Vishnu.
PURPORT
DITI AND ADITI are two sisters. The sons of Aditi are called Adityas, and the sons of Diti are called Daityas. All the Adityas are devotees of the Lord, and all the Daityas are atheistic. Although Prahlada was born in the family of the Daityas, he was a great devotee from his childhood. Because of his steadfast devotional service, he is considered to be representative of Krishna.
There are many subduing principles, but Time wears down all things in the material universe, and so represents Krishna. Of animals, the lion is often considered the most powerful and ferocious. And of great birds, the greatest is Garuda, who carries Vishnu.
31: Of purifiers I am the wind; of the wielders of weapons I am Rama; of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.
PURPORT
AMONG AQUATICS, the shark is one of the biggest and is certainly the most dangerous to man. Of course, Rama is the great warrior incarnation who is the subject of the epic Ramayana, and the Ganges is the principal river of India.
32: Of all creations I am the beginning and the end, and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the Self, and among logicians I am reason.
33: Of letters I am the letter A, and among compounds I am the dual word. I am also inexhaustible Time, and of creators I am Brahma whose manifold faces turn everywhere.
34: I am all-devouring Death, and I am the Generator of all things yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, faithfulness, and patience.
35: Of hymns I am the Brihat-Saman sung to the Lord Indra, and of poetry I am the Gayatri verse, sung daily by Brahmins. Of months I am November and December, and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.
PURPORT
AMONG THE VEDAS, the Samaveda is rich in beautiful songs to be played for the different demigods. One of these songs is the Brihat-Saman, which has an exquisite melody and which is sung at midnight.
In Sanskrit, there are definite rules that regulate poetry. The Gayatri verse is sung by the Brahmins duly qualified. The Srimad Bhagwatam recommends the Gayatri verse as being especially good for God realization. One who can successfully chant this verse can enter into the Lord's transcendental position. In order to chant the Gayatri verse, one must be perfectly situated in the modes of goodness. The verse is considered a sound incarnation of Brahman. Brahma is its initiator, and it is passed down by disciplic succession starting with him.
The months of November and December are considered the best of all months, because in India grains are collected from the fields at this time and the people become very happy. Of course, spring is a season universally liked because it is neither too hot nor too cold and the flowers and trees blossom and flourish. In Vrindaban, Krishna's birthplace, there are many ceremonies at this time, celebrating Krishna's Pastimes. Spring, the best of all seasons, represents Krishna.
36: I am also the gambling of cheats; and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory; I am adventure, and I am the good quality in all superior men.
PURPORT
THERE ARE MANY KINDS of cheaters all over the universe. Of all cheating processes, gamb1ing stands supreme, and therefore represents Krishna. As the Supreme, Krishna can be more deceitful than any mere man. If Krishna chooses to deceive a person, no one can surpass Him in deceit. His greatness is not simply one-sided—it is all-sided. Among the victorious, He is victory, and among the splendid, He is splendor. Among enterprising industrialists, He is the most enterprising; among adventurers, He is the most adventurous, and among the strong, He is the strongest. Even as a child, no one could surpass Him in strength, for He lifted Govardhan Hill with one hand. Clearly, the Godhead excels in all things.
37: Of the descendants of Vrishni I am Vasudeva; and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana.
PURPORT
VASUDEVA IS AN immediate expansion of Krishna; Arjuna is the most famous and valiant of the sons of Pandu. Indeed, he is the best of men and therefore represents Krishna. Among the Munis, or learned men conversant in Vedic knowledge, Vyasa is the greatest because he explained Vedic knowledge in many different ways for the common people in this Age of Kali to understand. Vyasa is indeed a very opulent literary incarnation, and therefore represents Krishna. Kavis are those who are capable of thinking thoroughly on any subject. Among the Kavis, Usana was the spiritual master of the demons, extremely intelligent, spiritual in every way, and a politician of great insight. Usana therefore represents another facet of Krishna's opulence.
38: Among punishments I am the rod of chastisement; and of those who seek victory, I am statesmanship. Of secret things I am silence, and of the wise I am wisdom.
PURPORT
THERE ARE MANY oppressing agents, of which the most important are those that cut down the miscreants. When miscreants are punished, the rod of chastisement represents Krishna. Among the activities of hearing, thinking, and meditating, silence is most important because by silence one can make spiritual progress very quickly. The wise man is he who can discriminate between matter and spirit, between God's superior and inferior natures. Such knowledge is Krishna Himself.
39: Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being—moving or unmoving—that can exist without Me.
40: O mighty conqueror of enemies, there is no end to My divine manifestations. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite opulences.
41: Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.
42: But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support these entire universes.
PURPORT
THE SUPREME LORD is represented throughout the entire material universes by His entering into all things as the Supersoul. The Lord here tells Arjuna that there is no point in understanding how things exist in separate grandeur. He should see all things as existing due to Krishna's entering them as Supersoul. From Brahma, the most gigantic material entity, on down to the smallest ant—all entities are existing because the Supreme Lord has entered each and is sustaining it. Worship of demigods is discouraged because even the greatest demigods, such as Brahma and Shiva, only represent a part of the Supreme Lord's opulence. The Supreme Lord is asamardha, which means that no one is greater than He, or equal to Him. By studying the opulences of Krishna, one can come to understand why one should worship Him. Pure devotees concentrate their minds in Krishna consciousness, in full devotional service; and so they worship Him Who sustains the entire cosmic manifestation by one fraction of His divine Yoga-power.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Tenth Chapter of The Srimad Bhagavad Gita, in the matter of the Opulence of the Absolute.