Book of Krishna (Bhagavad gita)

icon10   The Infinite Glories of the Ultimate Truth

1Lord Krishna said: O Arjuna, listen once again to My supreme word that I shall speak to you, who is very dear to Me, for your welfare.
2Neither the celestial controllers, nor the great sages know My origin, because I am the origin of celestial controllers and great sages also.
3One who knows Me as the unborn, the beginningless, and the Supreme Lord of the universe, is considered wise among the mortals, and becomes liberated from the bondage of Karma.
4Discrimination, Self-knowledge, non-delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control over the mind and senses, tranquillity, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness; nonviolence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, ill fame ¾ these diverse qualities in human beings arise from Me alone.
5The great saints, sages, and all the creatures of the world were born from My potential energy.
6One who truly understands My manifestations and yogic powers is united with Me by unswerving devotion. There is no doubt about it.
7I am the origin of all. Everything emanates from Me.
8The wise ones who understand this adore Me with love and devotion.
9My devotees remain ever content and delighted.
10Their minds remain absorbed in Me, and their lives surrendered unto Me.
11They always enlighten each other by talking about Me.
12I give the knowledge and understanding of the sciences ¾ to those who are ever united with Me and lovingly adore Me ¾ by which they come to Me.
13I, who dwell within their inner psyche as consciousness, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of transcendental knowledge as an act of compassion for them.
14Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Being, the Supreme Abode, the Supreme Purifier, the Eternal Being, the primal God, the unborn, and the omnipresent.
15All saints and sages have thus acclaimed You, and now You Yourself are telling me.
16O Krishna, I believe all that You have told me to be true.
17O Lord, neither the celestial controllers nor the demons fully understand Your real nature.
18O Creator and Lord of all beings, God of all celestial rulers, the Supreme person, and Lord of the universe, You alone know Yourself by Yourself.
19Therefore, You alone are able to fully describe Your own divine glories ¾ the manifestations ¾ by which You exist pervading all the universes.
20How may I know You, O Lord, by constant contemplation? In what form of manifestation are You to be thought of by me, O Lord?
21O Lord, explain to me again in detail, Your yogic power and glory; because I am not satiated by hearing Your nectar-like words.
22Lord Krishna said: O Arjuna, now I shall explain to you My prominent divine manifestations, because My manifestations are endless.
23O Arjuna, I am the Supreme Spirit (or Supersoul) abiding in the inner psyche of all beings.
24I am also the creator, maintainer, and destroyer ¾ or the beginning, the middle, and the end ¾ of all beings.
25I am the sustainer, I am the radiant sun among the luminaries, I am the controller of wind, I am the moon among the stars.
26I am the Vedas, I am the celestial rulers, I am the mind among the senses, I am the consciousness in living beings.
27I am Lord Shiva, I am the god of wealth, I am the fire god, and the mountains.
28I am the priest, and the army general of the celestial controllers, O Arjuna. I am the ocean among the bodies of water.
29I am the monosyllable cosmic sound, OM, among the words; I am the chanting of mantra among the spiritual disciplines; and I am the Himalaya among the mountains.
30I am the holy fig tree among the trees, Narada among the sages, and I am all other celestial rulers.
31Know Me as the celestial animals among the animals, and the King among men.
32I am thunderbolt among the weapons, and I am the cupid for procreation.
33I am the water-god, and the manes. I am the controller of death.
34I am the time or death among the healers, lion among the beasts, and the king of birds among birds.
35I am the wind among the purifiers, and Lord Rama among the warriors.
36I am the crocodile among the fishes, and the holy Ganges river among the rivers.
37I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all creation, O Arjuna.
38Among the knowledge I am knowledge of the supreme Self.
39I am wisdom of the scribe.
40I am the first letter amongst the alphabets.
41I am the dual compound among the compound words.
42I am the endless time. I am the sustainer, and I am omniscient.
43I am the all devouring death, and also the origin of future beings.
44I am the seven goddesses or guardian angels presiding over the seven qualities ¾ fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intellect, resolve, and forgiveness.
45I am the Vedic and other hymns.
46I am the mantras.
47I am December among the months.
48I am the spring among the seasons.
49I am gambling of the cheats; splendor of the splendid; victory of the victorious; resolution of the resolute; and goodness of the good.
50I am Krishna, Vyasa, Arjuna, and the power of rulers, the statesmanship of the seekers of victory.
51I am silence among the secrets, and the Self-knowledge of the knowledgeable.
52I am the origin of all beings, O Arjuna.
53There is nothing, animate or inanimate, that can exist without Me.
54There is no end of My divine manifestations, O Arjuna. This is only a brief description by Me of the extent of My divine manifestations.
55Whatever is endowed with glory, brilliance, and power; know that to be a manifestation of a very small fraction of My splendor.
56What is the need for this detailed knowledge, O Arjuna?
57I continually support the entire universe by a very small fraction of My divine power.