Chapter 10, Verse 42 (Bhagavad Gita 10.42)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन। विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत्
Transliteration
atha vā bahunaitena kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna viṣhṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛitsnam ekānśhena sthito jagat
Word Meanings
athavā—or; bahunā—detailed; etena—by this; kim—what; jñātena tava—can be known by you; arjuna—Arjun; viṣhṭabhya—pervade and support; aham—I; idam—this; kṛitsnam—entire; eka—by one; anśhena—fraction; sthitaḥ—am situated; jagat—creation
Translation
But what is the need for all this detailed knowledge, O Arjuna? I exist, sustaining this entire universe by a mere fragment of Myself.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna shifts Arjuna’s focus from the manifestations of His glory to the essence of His supreme nature. By declaring that the entire cosmos is sustained by but a tiny fragment of His being, Shri Krishna reveals His status as the transcendent source beyond all creation. This teaching humbles the intellect, showing that while knowledge of the Lord's infinite manifestations is valuable, the ultimate realization lies in understanding His supremacy and omnipresence. A sincere seeker finds liberation not by calculating the Lord's parts, but by surrendering to the whole, recognizing that Shri Krishna is the very foundation of existence. Thus, the soul is invited to transcend the material world and find refuge in the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.