By: Rajendra Kapil

This tenth chapter begins with Lord Krishna’s dialogue, in which He addresses Arjuna as His dearest friend.
Shri Krishna explains to him that the knowledge He is about to impart is exceedingly rare—something He reveals only to His most beloved devotees. And since Arjuna is especially dear to Him, He shares it with him.

In this chapter, the Lord describes His divine opulences (vibhuti) in detail—the glories of His presence pervading every particle of this universe in the most exalted form. Krishna explains these manifestations in such simple language that even an ordinary devotee can easily understand them. That is why this chapter is called “Vibhuti Yoga”—the Yoga of Divine Glories.

First, Krishna speaks of His transcendental, eternal form:
He is the sole cause of creation. He is beginningless, unborn, without origin and without end. Those devotees who worship Him free from doubt, fear, and delusion, who completely control their minds, dedicate all actions to Him, and constantly engage in His remembrance—such devotees truly know His essence and, in due time, attain Him with ease.

All phenomena of this world—birth, death, fear, sorrow, joy, gain, and loss—arise from His will, His maya. Ordinary beings remain bound and affected by these, but His true devotees remain free, living in joy.

Key Verses

“Mach-chittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam
Kathayantaś cha māṁ nityaṁ tuṣyanti cha ramanti cha” (10.9)

“Teṣām satata-yuktānām bhajatām prīti-pūrvakam
Dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te” (10.10)

Meaning: Those whose minds are always fixed on Me, who dedicate their lives to Me, constantly enlighten one another about Me and sing My glories, remaining ever content and joyous in Me.
To such devotees, who continuously worship Me with love, I grant the wisdom by which they can surely attain Me.

Such devotees—absorbed in Me, offering themselves fully, and always glorifying Me—remain satisfied in My presence, delighting in My divine essence. To them, I give the yoga of wisdom and liberation, through which they come to Me without fail. Like a loving father to his children, I care for them always.

Arjuna’s Question

At this point, a question arises in Arjuna’s mind: “O Lord, if You are present in every particle of this universe, then how shall I recognize You in all these? How can I see You directly?” Arjuna wishes to see, hear, and experience Krishna’s divine manifestations, to be overwhelmed in devotion by His glories.

Hearing this, Krishna begins to describe His divine opulences through a long list of where Arjuna can perceive Him—among gods, sages, beings, and natural elements. The key point here is: Whatever is supremely excellent in this world is a reflection of the Lord Himself.

Selected Verses of Vibhuti

“Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu; among luminaries, I am the radiant sun;
among the Maruts, I am Marichi; among the stars, I am the moon.” (10.21)

“Among the Vedas, I am the Sama Veda; among the gods, I am Indra;
among the senses, I am the mind; and among beings, I am consciousness.” (10.22)

“Among the Rudras, I am Shankara; among Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am Kubera;
among the Vasus, I am Agni; among mountains, I am Meru.” (10.23)

“Among priests, I am Brihaspati; among generals, I am Skanda;
and among bodies of water, I am the ocean.” (10.24)

“Among great sages, I am Bhrigu; among words, I am the single syllable Om;
among sacrifices, I am the silent japa (chanting);
among immovable things, I am the Himalayas.” (10.25)

Meaning: I am Vishnu among the Adityas; I am the radiant sun among lights; I am the moon among the stars. I am Sama Veda among the Vedas, Indra among the gods, the mind among the senses, and consciousness among beings. Among Rudras, I am Shiva; among Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am Kubera, lord of wealth. I am fire among the Vasus, and Meru among mountains. Among priests, I am Brihaspati, among warriors I am Skanda, among waters I am the ocean. I am sage Bhrigu among the rishis, the syllable Om among words, japa-yajna among sacrifices, and the Himalayas among immovable things.

“Among trees, I am the peepal; among divine sages, I am Narada;
among Gandharvas, I am Chitraratha; among perfected beings, I am sage Kapila.” (10.26)

“Among horses, know Me as Uchchaihshrava, born from the churning of the ocean;
among elephants, I am Airavata; and among men, I am the king.” (10.27)

“Among weapons, I am the thunderbolt; among cows, I am Kamadhenu;
among causes of procreation, I am Cupid; among serpents, I am Vasuki.” (10.28)

“Among nagas, I am Ananta; among aquatic beings, I am Varuna;
among ancestors, I am Aryama; and among those who enforce law, I am Yama.” (10.29)

Meaning: I am the Peepal tree among trees, Narada among divine sages, Chitraratha among Gandharvas, and Kapila among perfected beings. Among horses, I am Uchchaihshrava, among elephants I am Airavata, and among men I am the king. I am the thunderbolt among weapons, Kamadhenu among cows, Cupid among procreation, and Vasuki among serpents. Among Nagas, I am Ananta, among water deities I am Varuna, among ancestors I am Aryama, and among upholders of justice, I am Yama.

“Among purifiers, I am the wind; among warriors, I am Rama;
among fishes, I am the shark; among rivers, I am the Ganga.” (10.31)

“Of creations, I am the beginning, middle, and end, O Arjuna;
among sciences, I am the knowledge of the Self;
among disputants, I am the decisive truth.” (10.32)

“Among letters, I am A; among compound words, I am the dual;
I am imperishable Time; I am the sustainer facing all directions.” (10.33)

Meaning: Among purifiers, I am the wind; among warriors, I am Lord Rama; among fishes, I am the shark; among rivers, I am the Ganga. I am the beginning, middle, and end of creation. Among sciences, I am spiritual knowledge; among debates, I am the final truth. Among letters, I am Om, among compounds, I am the dual; I am eternal Time, and I am the all-pervading cosmic sustainer.

Conclusion

Thus Arjuna gains a vision of Krishna’s divine manifestations in all aspects of existence. Finally, the Lord instructs him: “Knowing this, act without doubt, with single-minded devotion. Perform all duties, but dedicate them to Me with a pure heart. I will take care of the rest. You are My dearest friend and disciple, and I am always concerned for your welfare.”

To witness such divine opulence, every devotee’s heart yearns only to bow down in reverence and love.

Jai Shri Krishna.