Chapter 10, Verse 38 (Bhagavad Gita 10.38)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम्। मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम्
Transliteration
daṇḍo damayatām asmi nītir asmi jigīṣhatām maunaṁ chaivāsmi guhyānāṁ jñānaṁ jñānavatām aham
Word Meanings
daṇḍaḥ—punishment; damayatām—amongst means of preventing lawlessness; asmi—I am; nītiḥ—proper conduct; asmi—I am; jigīṣhatām—amongst those who seek victory; maunam—silence; cha—and; eva—also; asmi—I am; guhyānām—amongst secrets; jñānam—wisdom; jñāna-vatām—in the wise; aham—I
Translation
Of those who punish, I am the scepter; among those who seek victory, I am statesmanship; and among secrets, I am silence; I am knowledge among knowers.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals to Arjuna that He is the underlying essence of all governing and intellectual principles in the universe. By identifying as the scepter and statesmanship, Shri Krishna demonstrates that justice and strategic wisdom are merely reflections of His supreme authority. His declaration that He is silence among secrets invites the seeker to recognize that the deepest truths of existence are found beyond the chatter of the mind in meditative stillness. Through these revelations, Shri Krishna encourages humanity to perceive His presence in every refined quality of life, guiding the soul toward a state of constant remembrance of the Divine. Ultimately, recognizing Shri Krishna as the source of all knowledge is the path to liberation, as it aligns the seeker’s intellect with the Supreme Consciousness.