Chapter 16 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 16.1
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, You are beginningless and endless, the Absolute Truth Himself, unlimited by anything else. You are the protector and life-giver, the destruction and creation of all things that exist.
Essence. Uddhava addresses the Lord as beginningless and endless, the Absolute Truth, protector, life-giver, destroyer and creator of all. The praise is comprehensive, not just polite.
BG 16.2
My dear Lord, although it is difficult for the impious to understand that You are situated in all superior and inferior creations, those brāhmaṇas who are actual knowers of the Vedic conclusion worship You in truth.
Essence. It is hard for the impious to grasp that the Lord is in all creations high and low; brāhmaṇas who know Vedic conclusions worship Him in truth. Real conclusion is not abstract — it produces worship.
BG 16.3
Please tell me of the perfections that great sages achieve by worshiping You with devotion. Also, kindly explain which of Your different forms they worship.
Essence. Uddhava asks what perfections sages achieve through devotion, and which of His forms they worship. Naming what one wants to know is itself part of getting an answer.
BG 16.4
O my Lord, maintainer of all, although You are the Supersoul of the living entities, You remain hidden. Thus being bewildered by You, the living entities cannot see You, although You are seeing them.
Essence. Though the Lord is the Supersoul, He remains hidden, and living beings, bewildered, cannot see Him though He sees them. The asymmetry is the basic spiritual problem.
BG 16.5
O supremely potent Lord, please explain to me Your innumerable potencies, which You manifest on the earth, in heaven, in hell and indeed in all directions. I offer my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet, which are the shelter of all holy places.
Essence. Uddhava asks about the Lord's innumerable potencies in earth, heaven, hell, and all directions, offering humble obeisances at His lotus feet — the shelter of all holy places. The request and the posture are joined.
BG 16.6
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of those who know how to inquire, on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna, desiring to fight with his rivals, asked Me the same question that you are now posing.
Essence. The Lord notes that Arjuna asked the same question on Kurukṣetra. The classic teaching answers a classic question — and Uddhava is welcomed into that lineage of inquiry.
BG 16.7
On the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra Arjuna thought that killing his relatives would be an abominable, irreligious activity, motivated only by his desire to acquire a kingdom. He therefore desisted from the battle, thinking, “I would be the killer of my relatives. They would be destroyed.” Thus Arjuna was afflicted with mundane consciousness.
Essence. Arjuna at Kurukṣetra thought killing relatives was abominable irreligious work for a kingdom and withdrew. Even great souls have moments of paralysis when family and duty seem to conflict.
BG 16.8
At that time I enlightened Arjuna, the tiger among men, with logical arguments, and thus in the front of the battle Arjuna addressed Me with questions in the same way that you are now inquiring.
Essence. The Lord enlightened Arjuna with logical arguments in the front of the battle, and Arjuna's questions are similar to Uddhava's. Reason has its place even in the heart's deepest crises.
BG 16.9
My dear Uddhava, I am the Supersoul of all living entities, and therefore I am naturally their well-wisher and supreme controller. Being the creator, maintainer and annihilator of all entities, I am not different from them.
Essence. The Lord is the Supersoul of all beings — well-wisher and supreme controller; as creator, maintainer, annihilator, He is not different from them. Closeness and identity are paradoxically held together.
BG 16.10
I am the ultimate goal of all those seeking progress, and I am time among those who exert control. I am the equilibrium of the modes of material nature, and I am natural virtue among the pious.
Essence. Among progress-seekers He is the goal, among controllers He is time, the equilibrium of the modes, and natural virtue among the pious. He inhabits the highest expression of each category.
BG 16.11
Among things possessing qualities I am the primary manifestation of nature, and among great things I am the total material creation. Among subtle things I am the spirit soul, and of things that are difficult to conquer I am the mind.
Essence. He is primary nature among things-with-qualities, total creation among the great, spirit-soul among subtle, and the mind among hard-to-conquer things. The list trains us to look for Him at the apex of each domain.
BG 16.12
Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahmā, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered oṁkāra. Among letters I am the first letter, “a,” and among sacred meters I am the Gāyatrī mantra.
Essence. Among Vedas He is Brahmā the original teacher, among mantras the three-lettered oṁ, among letters the first 'a', among meters the Gāyatrī. He is the seed of every sacred sound.
BG 16.13
Among the demigods I am Indra, and among the Vasus I am Agni, the god of fire. I am Viṣṇu among the sons of Aditi, and among the Rudras I am Lord Śiva.
Essence. Among demigods He is Indra, among Vasus Agni, among Adityas Viṣṇu, among Rudras Śiva. Every pantheon has a center, and the Lord names His representative in each.
BG 16.14
Among saintly brāhmaṇas I am Bhṛgu Muni, and I am Manu among saintly kings. I am Nārada Muni among saintly demigods, and I am Kāmadhenu among cows.
Essence. He is Bhṛgu among brāhmaṇas, Manu among kings, Nārada among demigod sages, and Kāmadhenu among cows. The list of exemplars is itself a practical curriculum.
BG 16.15
I am Lord Kapila among perfected beings and Garuḍa among birds. I am Dakṣa among the progenitors of mankind, and I am Aryamā among the forefathers.
Essence. Among perfected beings He is Kapila, among birds Garuḍa, among progenitors Dakṣa, among forefathers Aryamā. Each domain has a chief, and the Lord is each chief.
BG 16.16
My dear Uddhava, among the demoniac sons of Diti know Me to be Prahlāda Mahārāja, the saintly lord of the asuras. Among the stars and herbs I am their lord, Candra (the moon), and among Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the lord of wealth, Kuvera.
Essence. Among Diti's demonic sons He is Prahlāda, among stars and herbs Candra, among Yakṣas and Rākṣasas Kuvera. Even within unlikely categories, the Lord names His apex — Prahlāda among demons is especially striking.
BG 16.17
I am Airāvata among lordly elephants, and among aquatics I am Varuṇa, the lord of the seas. Among all things that heat and illuminate I am the sun, and among human beings I am the king.
Essence. Among lordly elephants Airāvata, among aquatics Varuṇa, among illuminators the sun, among humans the king. The Lord meets every level of being at its peak expression.
BG 16.18
Among horses I am Uccaiḥśravā, and I am gold among metals. I am Yamarāja among those who suppress and punish, and among serpents I am Vāsuki.
Essence. Among horses Uccaiḥśravā, among metals gold, among punishers Yamarāja, among serpents Vāsuki. The list refuses to skip even unsettling categories.
BG 16.19
O sinless Uddhava, among the best of snakes I am Anantadeva, and among those animals with sharp horns or teeth I am the lion. Among the social orders I am the fourth, or the renounced order of life, and among the occupational divisions I am the first, the brāhmaṇas.
Essence. Among best snakes Anantadeva, among horned/toothed animals the lion, among āśramas sannyāsa, among varṇas brāhmaṇas. The Lord names a hierarchy and locates Himself at its top.
BG 16.20
Among sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord Śiva.
Essence. Among sacred and flowing things the Ganges, among steady waters the ocean, among weapons the bow, among weapon-wielders Śiva. Each axis has its Lord-representative.
BG 16.21
Among residences I am Mount Sumeru, and of impervious places I am the Himālayas. Among trees I am the holy fig tree, and among plants I am those that bear grains.
Essence. Among residences Sumeru, among impervious places Himalaya, among trees the holy fig, among plants grain-bearers. The Lord is at the height of even physical geography.
BG 16.22
Among priests I am Vasiṣṭha Muni, and among those highly situated in Vedic culture I am Bṛhaspati. I am Kārtikeya among great military leaders, and among those advancing in superior ways of life I am the great personality Lord Brahmā.
Essence. Among priests Vasiṣṭha, among Vedic scholars Bṛhaspati, among military leaders Kārtikeya, among advancing personalities Brahmā. Every excellence-track has its Lord-bearer.
BG 16.23
Among sacrifices I am study of the Veda, and I am nonviolence among vows. Among all things that purify I am the wind, fire, the sun, water and speech.
Essence. Among sacrifices Vedic study, among vows nonviolence, among purifying things wind, fire, sun, water, speech. Several agents of purity are named — variety is itself instructive.
BG 16.24
Among the eight progressive states of yoga I am the final stage, samādhi, in which the soul is completely separated from illusion. Among those desiring victory I am prudent political counsel, and among processes of expert discrimination I am the science of the soul, by which one distinguishes spirit from matter. Among all speculative philosophers I am diversity of perception.
Essence. Among yoga stages He is samādhi, among victory-seekers prudent counsel, among discrimination-processes the science of the soul. The Lord names depth, wisdom, and self-knowing as His own.
BG 16.25
Among ladies I am Śatarūpā, and among male personalities I am her husband, Svāyambhuva Manu. I am Nārāyaṇa among the sages and Sanat-kumāra among brahmacārīs.
Essence. Among ladies Śatarūpā, among males her husband Svāyambhuva Manu, among sages Nārāyaṇa, among brahmacārīs Sanat-kumāra. The Lord names persons across categories — including the original couple.
BG 16.26
Among religious principles I am renunciation, and of all types of security I am consciousness of the eternal soul within. Of secrets I am pleasant speech and silence, and among sexual pairs I am Brahmā.
Essence. Among religious principles renunciation, among securities consciousness of the eternal soul, among secrets pleasant speech and silence, among sexual pairs Brahmā. The list ranges from inward to interpersonal.
BG 16.27
Among the vigilant cycles of time I am the year, and among seasons I am spring. Among months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, and among lunar houses I am the auspicious Abhijit.
Essence. Among time cycles the year, among seasons spring, among months Mārgaśīrṣa, among lunar houses Abhijit. Time itself has a hierarchy with the Lord at its peaks.
BG 16.28
Among ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady sages I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided the Vedas I am Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa, and among learned scholars I am Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.
Essence. Among ages Satya-yuga, among steady sages Devala and Asita, among Veda-dividers Vedavyāsa, among learned scholars Śukrācārya. Devotion to figures and ages alike anchors us.
BG 16.29
Among those entitled to the name Bhagavān I am Vāsudeva, and indeed, you, Uddhava, represent Me among the devotees. I am Hanumān among the Kimpuruṣas, and among the Vidyādharas I am Sudarśana.
Essence. Among those named Bhagavān He is Vāsudeva — and Uddhava himself represents Him among devotees; He is Hanumān among Kimpuruṣas, Sudarśana among Vidyādharas. The Lord includes Uddhava in the list — a powerful honor.
BG 16.30
Among jewels I am the ruby, and among beautiful things I am the lotus cup. Among all types of grass I am the sacred kuśa, and of oblations I am ghee and other ingredients obtained from the cow.
Essence. Among jewels the ruby, among beautiful things the lotus cup, among grasses kuśa, among oblations ghee and cow-products. Even small, daily objects carry the Lord's signature.
BG 16.31
Among the enterprising I am fortune, and among the cheaters I am gambling. I am the forgiveness of the tolerant and the good qualities of those in the mode of goodness.
Essence. Among the enterprising He is fortune, among cheaters gambling, the forgiveness of the tolerant, the good qualities of those in goodness. The Lord names His presence even in dark domains.
BG 16.32
Of the powerful I am bodily and mental strength, and I am the devotional activities of My devotees. My devotees worship Me in nine different forms, among which I am the original and primary Vāsudeva.
Essence. Among the powerful He is bodily and mental strength, and He is the devotional activities of devotees; among the nine forms of worship He is original Vāsudeva. Devotion itself is His expression.
BG 16.33
Among the Gandharvas I am Viśvāvasu, and I am Pūrvacitti among the heavenly Apsaras. I am the steadiness of mountains and the fragrant aroma of the earth.
Essence. Among Gandharvas Viśvāvasu, among Apsaras Pūrvacitti, the steadiness of mountains and the fragrant aroma of the earth. The list now turns toward sensory qualities of nature.
BG 16.34
I am the sweet taste of water, and among brilliant things I am the sun. I am the effulgence of the sun, moon and stars, and I am the transcendental sound that vibrates in the sky.
Essence. He is the sweet taste of water, the brilliance of the sun, the effulgence of moon and stars, the transcendental sound in the sky. Sensory delights are not distractions but doorways.
BG 16.35
Among those dedicated to brahminical culture I am Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, and I am Arjuna among heroes. Indeed, I am the creation, maintenance and annihilation of all living entities.
Essence. Among those dedicated to brahminical culture He is Bali Mahārāja, among heroes Arjuna; He is creation, maintenance, annihilation. The Lord pairs personal exemplars with cosmic functions.
BG 16.36
I am the functions of the five working senses — the legs, speech, anus, hands and sex organs — as well as those of the five knowledge-acquiring senses — touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell. I am also the potency by which each of the senses experiences its particular sense object.
Essence. He is the functions of all the working and knowledge-acquiring senses and the potency by which each senses its object. Even sensation itself is His presence.
BG 16.37
I am form, taste, aroma, touch and sound; false ego; the mahat-tattva; earth, water, fire, air and sky; the living entity; material nature; the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance; and the transcendental Lord. All these items, along with knowledge of their individual symptoms and the steady conviction that results from this knowledge, represent Me.
Essence. He is form, taste, aroma, touch, sound; false ego; mahat-tattva; the five gross elements; the living entity; nature; the three modes; and the transcendental Lord — plus knowledge of all these. He is total scope.
BG 16.38
As the Supreme Lord I am the basis of the living entity, of the modes of nature and of the mahat-tattva. Thus I am everything, and nothing whatsoever can exist without Me.
Essence. As the Supreme Lord, He is the basis of the living entity, the modes, the mahat-tattva — He is everything; nothing exists without Him. No exceptions are allowed.
BG 16.39
Even though over a period of time I might count all the atoms of the universe, I could not count all of My opulences which I manifest within innumerable universes.
Essence. Even counting all atoms across time, He could not count all His opulences across innumerable universes. Infinity is named with cosmic humor.
BG 16.40
Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation, mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance or spiritual knowledge there may be is simply an expansion of My opulence.
Essence. Whatever power, beauty, fame, opulence, humility, renunciation, mental pleasure, fortune, strength, tolerance, or spiritual knowledge there is is an expansion of His opulence. All excellence terminates in Him.
BG 16.41
I have briefly described to you all My spiritual opulences and also the extraordinary material features of My creation, which are perceived by the mind and defined in different ways according to circumstances.
Essence. The Lord has briefly described His spiritual opulences and material features perceived in many ways. The teaching is offered as a sketch, not a final catalog.
BG 16.42
Therefore, control your speaking, subdue the mind, conquer the life air, regulate the senses and through purified intelligence bring your rational faculties under control. In this way you will never again fall onto the path of material existence.
Essence. Control speech, subdue the mind, conquer the life air, regulate the senses, and through purified intelligence bring rational faculties under control — never again will you fall onto the path of material existence. The path is named in concrete verbs.
BG 16.43
A transcendentalist who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.
Essence. A transcendentalist who fails to control words and mind through superior intelligence will see his vows, austerities, and charity drain away like water from an unbaked pot. Containment must come before content.
BG 16.44
Being surrendered to Me, one should control the speech, mind and life air, and then through loving devotional intelligence one will completely fulfill the mission of life.
Essence. Surrendered to the Lord, control speech, mind, life air, and through loving devotional intelligence fulfill life's mission completely. Surrender is the source of even effective self-control.