THE HOLY GITA --CHAPTER 10, VERSE 16, VIBHUTI YOGA OR THE YOGA OF DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS

THE HOLY GITA

CHAPTER NUMBER 10

VIBHUTI YOGA OR THE YOGA OF DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS:

VERSE NUMBER 16

Text in Transliteration:

vaktum arhasy asesena divya hy aatmavichootayah:

yaabhir vibhootibhir lokaan imams tvam vyaapya tishthasi

Sanskrit words and phrases and their meaning:

Vaktm = to tell; arhasi = (thou) shouldst; aseshena = without remainder; diyaah: = divine; hi = indeed; aatma vibhootayah: = thy glories; yaabhih: = by which; vibhootibhih: = by glories; lokaan world: imaan = these; tvam = thou; vyaapya = having pervaded; tishthasi = exists.

Text in English:

Condescend to tell without reserve of Your divine glories, by which glories You remain pervading all these worlds.

COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

A musician alone can bring out the fine touches in melody. The strength of an elephant could be demonstrated only by that stately animal turning out gigantic work. The wealth of a monarch can be well recounted by none but himself. It is only given to an Incarnation of God to reveal all of His divine splendours and glories.

SRIMAT SWAMI RAMAKRISHNA AS QUOTED BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

The revelation of God comes purely by His mercy. He is the sun of knowledge. It is possible for a single ray of His to enlighten the whole world.  We are therefore able to understand one another and to acquire knowledge in all of its forms. More than all these, we get to know Him by His grace only.

COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:

vibhatayah: manifestations, the divine glories by which the Supreme pervades all the worlds. They are the formative forces of spiritual powers which give to each object its essential nature. They are akin to Plato’s Divine Ideas, the perfect types and patterns of all things here below. Only the word “idea” is likely to suggest a pale abstraction, a bloodless category. Vibhooti is a living formative principle.