Vibhuti Yoga
Ishwara Vaibhava Yoga
Supreme Word of Bhagavad Gita
Visible Signs of Divine Being’s Grandeur, Power of Becoming
The main topics of Chapter 10 are:
- Reiteration of the Divine Being’s power of becoming that was explained in Chapters 7,8 and 9.
- The secret behind the human dilemma of dualities of good and evil natures.
- Reward for devotion to the Universal Nature of the Divine Being.
- Visible Signs of Divine’s powers that serve as road signs towards reaching one’s highest potential.
SUMMARY
Sri Krishna declares to Arjuna: “Oh Arjuna, listen again to MY Supreme Word, I am telling you for your highest good while your heart is pleased with ME. MY origin is not known to divinities or Rishis, all divinities and Rishis entirely originate from ME. Those who know ME as Unborn, Without origin, Eternal, Cause of all visible things, Lord of all Worlds, live un- bewildered among the mortals. They will be delivered from all demerits (paapa) and evil. For those who put forth effort to Understand ME this way, I, with compassion become lodged in their Self, destroy their ignorance, and show the blazing light of Knowledge. One must learn this Secret Wisdom from Seers who have experienced the Truth or by inner revelation guided by a burning desire to know the Truth”. BG:10:1-3,10,11.
The essence of the explanation is: All cosmic relations derive from the Supreme. The Divine Being is All that is manifest, not yet manifest and beyond both. Vaasudeva, Lord SriKrishna, the Visible form of the Supreme Being, the AVATAR, is all that is visible, all that is invisible in the visible and beyond both. Without recognizing this fact, one cannot escape the feeling of pain, insecurity and helplessness. The human dilemma of right-wrong, good-evil arises from assigning credit or blame to apparent realities without recognizing the eternal reality behind everything. The impulse for non-pious acts, evil comes from the incomplete recognition one’s true identity and everything else. When the mind assigns everything to its external appearance along with the Supreme Divine Being’s presence, the impetus to conduct life towards this noble goal of feeling the presence of Divine, takes hold psychologically and emotionally. Lord SriKrishna, the Visibly manifested Supreme Being, The AVATAR, assures that, when a man starts putting forth effort in this fashion, HE would immediately reinforce with compassion this thought in his heart and help him overcome the limitations and that the blazing light of Divine will emerge from such a man.
Arjuna tells that his confusion is resolved by the Knowledge given to him. Arjuna enticingly and endearingly tells SriKrishna that his mind is hankering to hear in detail all the powers of HIS Divine manifestation. Arjuna asks SriKrishna to describe how HE can seen in man, animal, inanimate object, noble, low, sweet, terrible, in good and evil. BG:10:12-18.
At this request of Arjuna, SriKrishna gives a description of the eminent member of various groups of HIS manifestation by which HIS presence can be most vividly recognized.
Sri Krishna says: ” I will tell you only some of my Divine Vibhutis (manifestations), there is no end to my Self expression in the Universe”. BG:10:18.
Sri Krishna continues: ” I am the Self lodged in all beings, I am the beginning, middle and end of all beings, I am the Sun among radiances, Meru among the peaks, Ganga among the rivers, Sama Veda among the Vedas, Vasava among the Gods, Shiva among the Rudras, Lord of wealth among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, Agni among the Vasus. I am the Brihaspati among the high priests, I am Skanda the leader of the leaders of battle, Ocean among the water bodies, Bhrigu among the Rishis, Sacred syllable OM among the words, among acts of worship I am Japa, among the mountains I am Himalaya, Ashwattha tree among the plants, Narada among the divine sages, Chitraratha among the Gandharvas, Kapila Muni among the sages, Uchaisravas among the horses, Airavata among the elephants, I am the nectar-born, king among men, among weapons I am the thunderbolt, among cattle I am the plenty-giving cow Kamadhenu, I am Kandarpa the love-god among the progenitors, Vasuki among serpents, Ananta among Nagas, Varuna among people of Sea, Aryaman among divinised ancestors, Yama among law-men, Prahlada among titans, I am Time, I am King of beasts, Vainateya among birds, wind among purifiers, Rama among warriors, Alligator among fishes, Ganga among the rivers”. BG:10:20-31.
Sri Krishna continues: “I am the beginning, middle and end of creation, I am the spiritual knowledge of the many philosophies, arts and science, I am logic of those who debate. I am letter A among letters, dual among compounds, I am imperishable Time, I am the Master and Ruler of all existences with faces everywhere, I am death, I am birth and all that shall come into being, among feminine qualities I am glory, beauty, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and forgiveness. I am the great Sama among Mantras, Gayathri among meters, Margashira among the months. I am spring among seasons. I am gambling skill of the cunning, strength of mighty, I am resolution, perseverance, victory, I am the Saatvic quality of the good, Krishna among the Vrishnis, Arjuna among the Pandavas, Vyasa among Sages, Ushas among Seer-poets”. BG:10:32-37.
The chapter 10 closes with SriKrishna’s definitive statement the what ever is manifested is a degree, variety and power of HIS ONE Divine Being. SriKrishna adds also, that all visible manifestation is still only one speck of HIS possible Divine powers. BG:10:38-42.
The Bhagavad Gita gives the highest reassurance that the Divine power is always present in everyone ready to be manifested. The propensity for evil, fear, helplessness comes from the ignorance or denial of this fact. Once this truth is accepted, the whole life becomes a joyful adoration of Divine in all and everything. With that follows the mitigation of feeling a mental limitation, awareness of one’s own mental deviations, and proper work can be undertaken with discrimination, done with dispassion, courage, and love enabling the smooth running of the society and nature. Human being becomes a vehicle of outflow of divine energy and potential. This is the fusion of Knowledge, Action and Devotion. This is the highest success and achievement all human being is capable of.
Iswari's Gita Summaries 