Chapter 10, Verse 34 (Bhagavad Gita 10.34)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम्। कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा
Transliteration
mṛityuḥ sarva-haraśh chāham udbhavaśh cha bhaviṣhyatām kīrtiḥ śhrīr vāk cha nārīṇāṁ smṛitir medhā dhṛitiḥ kṣhamā
Word Meanings
mṛityuḥ—death; sarva-haraḥ—all-devouring; cha—and; aham—I; udbhavaḥ—the origin; cha—and; bhaviṣhyatām—those things that are yet to be; kīrtiḥ—fame; śhrīḥ—prospective; vāk—fine speech; cha—and; nārīṇām—amongst feminine qualities; smṛitiḥ—memory; medhā—intelligence; dhṛitiḥ—courage; kṣhamā—forgiveness
Translation
I am all-devouring death, and I am the origin of all things that are yet to be. Among feminine qualities, I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Shri Krishna unveils His dual nature as both the end of all manifestations and the seed of all future creation. By declaring Himself as the all-devouring death, Lord Krishna reminds the seeker that time and dissolution are merely His divine play, stripping away the illusion of material permanence. He further identifies Himself as the source of the seven divine feminine potencies—Kirti, Shri, Vak, Smriti, Medha, Dhriti, and Kshama—which are the essential virtues that elevate the human consciousness. By acknowledging these qualities as His own essence, the seeker learns to perceive the presence of the Supreme Lord in every act of intelligence and every moment of forbearance. Ultimately, Shri Krishna invites the soul to transcend the fear of death and the pride of success by realizing that every aspect of existence is a manifestation of His supreme grace.