THE HOLY GITA, CHAPTER 10, VERSE 26, VIBHUTI YOGA OR THE YOGA OF DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS

THE HOLY GITA

CHAPTER NUMBER 10

VIBHUTI YOGA OR THE YOGA OF DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS:

VERSE NUMBER 26

Text in Transliteration:

asvatthah: sarvarkshaanaam devarshinaam cha naaradah:

gandharvaanaam chitrarathah: siddhaanaam kapilo munih:

Sanskrit words and phrases and their meaning:

Asvatthah: = Asvattha; sarva vrrksaanaam = among all trees; devarsheenaam = among divine Rishis; cha = and; naaradah: = Narada; gandharvaanaam = among Gandharvas; chitrarathah: = Chitraratha; siddhaanaam = among the Siddhas or the perfected; kapilah: = Kapila; munih: = sage.

Text in English:

Of all trees I am Asvattha; of Deva Rishi I am Narada; of the Gandharvas I am Chitraratha and of the Siddhas I am the Mini Kapila.

COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

Asvattha is the peepul or the holy fig tree. It yields no edible fruit and nothing in this tree is in any way useful to man. Still it has ever been associated with the worship of the Divine. Any thought of this tree brings in its train ideas and ideals all connected with God. It is, for this reason, recognized as His vibhooti.

The spiritually enlightened ones are called the Rishis. Not only from among men, but also from among the Devas, Rishis have sprung up. Among the Deva Rishis the sage Narada is the foremost. He constantly sings the glory of God. In addition to this he is famous for setting up strifes and quarrels which end as blessings in disguise. Contact with Narada amounts to contact with God Himself. He is therefore the glory of God.

The Gandharvas are celestials with several good and useful traits. They are invoked to safeguard the intoxicating Soma juice associated with some forms of Yajnas. They are expert physicians and musicians. They are given to excessive lust and are for this reason invoked in wedlocks. The gamblers seek the aid of the Gandharvas, who are inordinately fond of this art. The Vedas set to tune are expounded by these celestials. At times they play the role of the preceptors to the Rishis, in this respect. Chitraratha being the king of these heavenly beings, it is proper that the Lord claims him as a divine attribute of His.

They are called Siddhas who are endowed from birth onwards with righteousness, wisdom, dispassion and overlordship. A Muni is he who is constantly established in Japa-yajna. Sage Kapila is one endowed with all these virtues. He is the author of the Samkhya system of philosophy. Further he is held to be an incarnation of Vishnu. It is but natural that the Lord should claim him as His own.

COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:

Kapila is the teacher of the Saamkhy philosophy.

COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI SIVANANDA:

Devarshis are gods and at the same time Rishis or seers of Mantras.

Siddhas are the perfected ones: those who at their very birth attained without any effort Dharma (virtue), Jnana (knowledge of the Self), Vairagya (dispassion) and Aishvarya (lordship).

Muni is one who does Manana or reflection; one who mediates.