Chapter 10, Verse 4 (Bhagavad Gita 10.4)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसंमोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः। सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च
Transliteration
buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ kṣhamā satyaṁ damaḥ śhamaḥ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhavo ’bhāvo bhayaṁ chābhayameva cha
Word Meanings
buddhiḥ—intellect; jñānam—knowledge; asammohaḥ—clarity of thought; kṣhamā—forgiveness; satyam—truthfulness; damaḥ—control over the senses; śhamaḥ—control of the mind; sukham—joy; duḥkham—sorrow; bhavaḥ—birth; abhāvaḥ—death; bhayam—fear; cha—and; abhayam—courage; eva—certainly; cha—and;
Translation
Intellect, knowledge, absence of delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, self-control, and calmness, as well as pleasure and pain, birth and death, fear and fearlessness—all these varied states of beings are created by Me alone.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Shri Krishna unveils that the fundamental spectrum of human experience and consciousness originates entirely from His divine nature. By attributing these dualities—such as joy and sorrow, fear and courage—to His own creative potency, Lord Krishna reminds Arjuna that every aspect of the manifested world is a manifestation of the Supreme. For the seeker, this wisdom acts as a mirror to realize that worldly polarities are but the lila of the Divine. Through deep surrender, the devotee learns to transcend these dualities, recognizing that they all emanate from the eternal Brahman. Ultimately, this insight leads the soul toward liberation, as one learns to witness these states with equanimity, anchored firmly in the presence of Shri Krishna.