THE HOLY GITA
CHAPTER NUMBER 10
VIBHUTI YOGA OR THE YOGA OF DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS:
VERSE NUMBER 38
Text in Transliteration:
dando damayataam asmi neetir asmi jigeesataam
maunam chai ‘va ‘smi guhyaanaam jnaanam jnaanavataam aham
Sanskrit words and phrases and their meaning:
dandah: = the sceptre; damayataam = among punishers; asmi = (I) am; neetih = statesmanship; asmi = (I) am; jigeeshataam = among those who seek victory; maunam = silence; cha = and; eva = also; asmi = (I) am; guhyaanaam = among secrets; jnaanam = the knowledge; jnaanavavataam = among the knowers; aham = I.
Text in English:
Of punishers I am the sceptre; of those that seek victory I am statesmanship; and of secrets I am also silence; and I am the wisdom of the wise.
COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:
The duty of the monarch is to mete out just punishment to the offender. The sceptre is the symbol of the measured punishment and justice. This done, the accused himself feels that he has been justly handled. Not only does this act reform the convict, but it is also a lesson to the common man. Punishment is therefore the grace of the Lord come in this shape. It may be mentioned here that diseases and ailments are the punishments awarded by Nature for known and unknown irregularities in life. Not only does Iswara function as Yama, He also functions as the sceptre.
Neeti is rendered here as statesmanship. Right attitude, right relationship and right proceedings are all born of Neeti. Any victory won by wrong method will not be lasting; it will only lead to new complications. Noble means alone lead to noble ends. Adoption of sound policy in mutual relationship is statesmanship. Such a policy in mutual relationship is statesmanship. Such a policy svours of divinity.
Secret is that which is not divulged to the others for valid reasons. The technique of harnessing certain resources of nature is kept secret for the exclusive advantage of the concerned few. The hidden powers of Nature are kept secret by others for some other considerations. God-knowledge remains a secret to the majority not because of any narrow outlook on the part of those who have had God-realization, but because of this science being open to those only who are pure in heart and who have a thirst for sacred knowledge.
Nature is ever in vibration, and whatever vibrates produces sound. Silence is not therefore in Nature. Brahman is motionless; no vibration takes place in Him. Silence and Brahman are one and the same. To the knowers of Brahman nothing is more eloquent and public than Brahman. To the ignorant nothing is more secret and hidden than Brahman.
The universe is where there is the triad of the knower, the knowledge and the object known. When the process of knowing is directed on the knower it becomes Atma vidyaa. Here the subject and object become one. Referring to this Self-knowledge the Lord says “I am the wisdom of the wise.”
COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI SIVANANDA:
Niti: diplomacy, polity.
Maunam: The silence produced by constant meditation on Brahman or the Self.
Jnanam: knowledge of the Self.
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