Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 15

English Translation

Swami Gambirananda did not comment on this sloka

Detailed Commentary

(10.15) Explanation: 'Bhutabhavana, Bhutesha, Devadeva, Jagatpate, Purushottama' – You are 'Bhutabhavana' because you create all beings merely by your will; you are 'Bhutesha' and 'Devadeva' because you are the Lord of all beings and all Devas; you are 'Jagatpate' because you sustain and nourish this entire universe, both inert and conscious, stationary and moving; and you are called 'Purushottama' in the world and the Vedas because you are the foremost among all Purushas (Gita 15.18) (Note p. 550). Five appellations have been used in this verse. So many appellations have not been used in any other verse in the Gita. The reason is that upon hearing about the Lord's Vibhutis (divine manifestations) and His grace towards devotees, special emotions awaken in Arjuna towards the Lord, and overwhelmed by these emotions, he uses five appellations simultaneously (Note p. 551). 'Svayam Eva Atmānam Vettha Tvam' – The Lord knows Himself by Himself. He does not require any external means to know Himself. He does not generate any mental modification (Vritti) or curiosity, nor does He require any medium. There is no concept of body-and-embodied within Him. He knows Himself naturally. This knowledge of His is not dependent on any means. The import of this verse is that just as the Lord knows Himself by Himself, so too should the Jiva (individual soul), being a part of the Lord, know itself in its true form. This knowledge of one's true nature is not dependent on means. Therefore, one cannot know one's true nature through the senses, mind, intellect, etc. Being a part of the Lord, the Jiva's self-knowledge (Atmā-jnāna) is also not dependent on means. Context – Knowledge of the Vibhutis brings steadfastness in the Lord (Gita 10.7). Therefore, in the subsequent verses, Arjuna prays to the Lord to describe His Vibhutis in detail.