Bhagavad-gītā 10.42
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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bahunā
—
many
Instrumental of bahu — 'much, many.' Kṛṣṇa gently dismisses the long list just given: 'what is the point of all this detail?' The catalog's own author confesses its incompleteness in His next breath.
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viṣṭabhya
—
pervading, supporting
Gerund of vi-stambh — 'to prop up, support firmly.' Stronger than 'pervade' alone — Kṛṣṇa is actively holding the universe up, like a column supporting a roof. The cosmos does not float on its own.
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kṛtsnam
—
entire
'Whole, complete.' Modifies 'this universe.' The verse insists on totality — Kṛṣṇa is not supporting half or most, but every part.
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aṁśena
—
part
Instrumental of aṁśa, modified here by eka — 'by one part.' The chapter's final stunning word. Even the entire cosmos requires only one aṁśa of Him. Pulls the rug from under any reader who thought the long catalog was impressive — the catalog was a fragment of a fragment.
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sthitaḥ
—
am situated
Same root sthā as verse 16's tiṣṭhasi. Kṛṣṇa is firmly placed, abiding. The verse closes the chapter with the speaker quietly standing — universe in one hand, the rest of Himself reserved.
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 their separate opulence and grandeur. He should know that all things are existing due to Kṛṣṇa’s entering them as Supersoul. From Brahmā, the most gigantic entity, on down to the smallest ant, all are existing because the Lord has entered each and all and is sustaining them. There is a Mission that regularly propounds that worship of any demigod will lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the supreme goal. But worship of demigods is thoroughly discouraged herein because even the greatest demigods like Brahmā and Śiva represent only part of the opulence of the Supreme Lord. He is the origin of everyone born, and no one is greater than Him. He is asamaurdhva, which means that no one is superior to Him and that no one is equal to Him. In the Padma Purāṇa it is said that one who considers the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in the same category with demigods – be they even Brahmā or Śiva – becomes at once an atheist. If, however, one thoroughly studies the different descriptions of the opulences and expansions of Kṛṣṇa’s energy, then one can understand without any doubt the position of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and can fix his mind in the worship of Kṛṣṇa without deviation. The Lord is all-pervading by the expansion of His partial representation, the Supersoul, who enters into everything that is. Pure devotees, therefore, concentrate their minds in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in full devotional service; therefore they are always situated in the transcendental position. Devotional service and worship of Kṛṣṇa are very clearly indicated in this chapter in verses 8 through 11. That is the way of pure devotional service. How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter. Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, a great ācārya in disciplic succession from Kṛṣṇa, concludes his commentary on this chapter by saying, yac-chakti-leśāt sūryādyā bhavanty aty-ugra-tejasaḥ yad-aṁśena dhṛtaṁ viśvaṁ sa kṛṣṇo daśame ’rcyate From Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potent energy even the powerful sun gets its power, and by Kṛṣṇa’s partial expansion the whole world is maintained. Therefore Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is worshipable. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Tenth Chapter of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of the Opulence of the Absolute.
Know the results that come from these many separate pieces of knowledge. By one portion alone, by the Paramātmā in human form, fixing Myself (viṣṭabhya) in the world which I have created, supporting this created world by being its basis, superintending the world by being its ruler, controlling the world by being its controller, pervading the world by being pervasive, and creating the world by beings its cause, I am situated in this world. Everything in this universe is Kṛṣṇa alone, and He is thus worthy of service. By intelligence given by that realization, one should taste His sweetness. This has been explained in this chapter. Here ends the commentaries on the tenth chapter of the Gītā for the pleasure of the devotees’ minds, by the mercy of the ācāryas.
Having explained the vibhūtis individually, the Lord now speaks of them as a whole. What is the necessity for you of this knowledge of vibhūtis which are being taught one by one (bahunā). O Arjuna! I remain firmly fixed within all the universe headed by Śiva and Brahmā, which is composed of matter and jīvas as I create it by My power of creation, and contain it by My power of containment, [Note: Everything is in Me.] pervade it by My power of pervasion, [Note: I am in everything.] and maintain it by My powers of maintenance, by just one of My parts, the three puruṣas as antaryāmīs of prakṛti, samṣṭi jīva and vyaṣṭi jīva. It should be understood that creation, containment, pervasion and maintenance are all My vibhūtis. Since I pervade everything, all the wonderful or powerful objects should be understood as My vibhūtis. In the tenth chapter, Kṛṣṇa is worshipped as the person whose one portion upholds the universe, and by a fraction of whose power the sun and other personalities have their profound powers. Chapter 11
Whatever is seen, not only the extraordinary things that were mentioned by Krsna, is supported by Krsna's potency. And Srila Prabhupada says in his Purport: "If, however, one thoroughly studies the different descriptions of the opulences and expansions of Krsna's energy, then one can understand without any doubt the position of Lord Sri Krsna and can fix his mind in the worship of Krsna without deviation. The Lord is all‑pervading by the expansion of His partial representation, the Supersoul, who enters into everything that is. Pure devotees, therefore, concentrate their minds in Krsna consciousness in full devotional service; therefore they are always situated in the transcendental position. Devotional service and worship of Krsna are very clearly indicated in chapter in verses eight through eleven. That is the way of pure devotional service."
THUS ENDS THE STUDY OF CHAPTER TEN.
QUESTIONS FOR HOME WORK:
Verses 1‑7 1. Describe the meaning of word "Bhagavan." 2. How is Krsna different from the demigods? from the living entities? 3. What is real auspiciousness? 4. Define asammoha, satyam, ksama, sama, ahimsa, and samata. 5. Summarize the verse 10.7 and the purport.
Verses 8‑11 1. Summarize the arguments and references from the purport to verse 10.8 showing that Krsna is the source of all demigods. 2. Explain Lord Caitanya's analogy of a seed. 3. Define and describe "buddhi yoga." 4. How does Krsna help the less intelligent devotee? 5. Summarize the purport to the verse 10.11
Verse 12‑18 1. Cite three Vedic evidences to confirm Arjuna's prayers in verses 10.12‑13. 2. What truth does Arjuna want to establish by speaking verse 15? 3. Why does Arjuna ask Krsna to explain his opulences? 4. Summaize the main point of the verse 10. 17 and the purport. 5. Explain the significance of the word "amrtam."
Verse 19‑38 1. Why is it not possible to comprehend the greatness of Krsna or His opulences? 2. Explain the significance of the word "vibhuti." 3. List and explain any ten opulences of your choice. 4. What is Gayatri? Who is the initiator of Gayatri and how is it available to us? 5. Name and define the two kinds of expansions of the Lord.
Verses 39‑42 1. How is Krsna the seed of everything? 2. How does a devotee relate to the wonderful and glorious things in the world? 3. Explain the word "asamurdhva." 4. Write in one sentence the conclusion of this section.
Indeed Krishna supports and pervades the entire universe with a mere fragment of Himself
FOCUS OF LEARNING IN 10.42
(a) Supersoul as the source of all strength – It is the Supersoul who gives great men their strength. It
is the Supersoul who arranges for spectacular natural wonders to occur through the material
energy
(b) One mission propounds “Worship of any demigod will lead to Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the Supreme goal” – Chapter 10 refutes this mission as follows
(c) Conclusion of Chapter 10
Bhagavad Gita Notes
Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”
10.42 अथवा or? बहुना (by) many? एतेन (by) this? किम् what? ज्ञातेन known? तव to thee? अर्जुन O Arjuna? विष्टभ्य supporting? अहम् I? इदम् this? कृत्स्नम् all? एकांशेन by one part? स्थितः exist? जगत् the world.Commentary The Lord concludes Having established or pervaded this whole world with one fragment of Myself? I remain.This verse is based on the declaration in the Purusha Sukta (RigVeda10.90.3) that One arter of Him is all the cosmos the three arters are the divine transcendent Reality.I exist supporting this whole world by one part? by one limit? or by one foot. One part of Myself constitutes all beings.All beings form His foot (Taittiriya Aranyaka 3.12). The whole world is one Pada or foot of the Lord. Amsa (part) or Pada (foot) is mere Kalpana or imagination or account of our own ignorance,or limiting adjunct. In reality Brahman is without any such parts or limbs and is formless.Arjuna has now a knowledge of the glories of the Lord. He is fit to behold the magnificent cosmic form of the Lord. Lord Krishna prepares Arjuna for this grand vision by giving him a description of His glories.Arjuna says O Lord? I now realise that the whole world is filled by Thee. I now wish to behold the whole universe in Thee with my eye of intuition.Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita? the science of the Eternal? the scripture of Yoga? the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna? ends the tenth discourse entitledThe Yoga of the Divine Glories.,
- BG 10 42 - Kavichandra Swami
- BG 10 42 - Madhavendra Puri - ISKCON Radhadesh 2012-10-31
- BG 10 42 - Sachinanadana Swami - Pula 1994-12-29
- BG 10 42 - Shubha Vilas Prabhu - ISKCON Chowpatty 2009-10-07
- BG 10 42 - Sridhar Swami - 2003
- Priya Valabha Mataji BG 10-42 Hindi
- Ujjvala Rasajna Mataji BG 10-42
- 14 - Dina Anu Pr BG 10-42
- Gokuleshwar Pr BG 10-42
- Hari Lila Pr BG 10-42 01 Tamil
- Jitamitra Pr Hindi Comments - BG 10-42 - 2014-11-27 EOK
- Padaseva Pr BG 10-42 Oriya
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 10-42 - 2017-11-01
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 10-42 Tamil - 2017-11-01
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 10-42 - The infinitely great and the infinitesimally small
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 10-42 Bengali - 2007-03-06 Bangladesh
- CMS BG 10-42 Slovenian Translation - Vzemimo zavetje pri Kri%C5%A1ni -2021-09-02 ISKCON Slovenia
- GuruPrasad Sw BG 10-42
- KavichandraSw BG 10-42
- SNS BG 10-42 - 1994-12-29 Pula HR
- Sridhar Sw BG 10-42 - 2003
- 2017-04-19 BG 10-42 - Harikesha Pr ISKCON Vrindavan
- Hold Kṛṣṇa's grandeur in mind: a fragment sustains all.
- Stop measuring Him with your scale.
- Trust that your worry is small in His sight.
- What worry of mine shrinks against this scale?
- What does trust in His sustaining power offer?
A vast banyan stands on a thousand roots; pull up any one, and the tree barely notices. So Kṛṣṇa says: this entire cosmos rests on one fragment of Me — and the rest of Me is elsewhere, unencumbered. The chapter ends not with totality displayed but with totality casually withheld. He has shown only the edge of the edge.
Mother Yaśodā tried to tie naughty baby Kṛṣṇa to a mortar with a length of rope. The rope was always two fingers short. She brought rope after rope; nothing reached around. Finally Kṛṣṇa let Himself be bound — but only when His mother had wept in frustration.
The Bhāgavatam (canto 10) tells the dāmodara-līlā as a meditation on this very verse. The infant who could not be tied with all the ropes in the world contained that world in His tiny belly — eka-aṁśena sthitaḥ. A fragment of Him sat in Yaśodā's lap; the entire universe was sustained by that fragment. The chapter's last verse and the most intimate Vraja pastime explain each other.
My note
Source: vedabase.io