Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 2

English Translation

Neither the gods nor the great sages know My majesty. For, in all respects, I am the source of the gods and the great sages.

Detailed Commentary

।।10.2।। Explanation – "Neither the hosts of Suras know My origin, nor the great Rishis." – Even though the bodies, intellect, realms, and resources of the Devas are divine, they do not know My manifestation. This means that My manifestation as the *Viśvarūpa*, My appearance in the form of Avatāras, My emergence through the actions, states (*bhāvas*), and glories (*vibhūtis*) in creation – even the Devas do not fully comprehend it. Even My *darśana* (vision) is attained by them with great difficulty; hence, they constantly yearn for My vision (Gita 11.52). Similarly, the Mahāṛṣis, who have manifested numerous *ṛcās* (hymns), mantras, *vidyās* (sciences/knowledge), and unparalleled powers, who have transcended the worldly realm and have nothing left to attain in their lives – even they do not fully comprehend My Avatāras and *līlās* (divine play). Here, Bhagavān has named the Devas and Mahāṛṣis. This reveals that the exalted status of the Devas and the knowledge of the Mahāṛṣis have their limits. They do not know My manifestation because I am indeed their origin – "ahaṃ ādir hi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ" (I am indeed the source of the Devas and the great Ṛṣis in every respect). The intellect, power, and capability they possess originate from Me alone. Therefore, they cannot fully know Me. Just as a child does not know about their mother's marriage or their own birth, similarly, the Devas and Mahāṛṣis do not know My manifestation. An effect may be contained within its cause, but it cannot know its cause. The Devas and Mahāṛṣis cannot know Bhagavān's beginning, end, or true nature. Bhagavān existed in the same manner before their origin and will remain so even after their dissolution. How can those who have a beginning and an end know the beginningless and endless Paramātmā? How can the infinite be known by a limited mind? In the fourteenth verse of this chapter, Arjuna also stated that neither the Devas nor the Dānavas (demons) know Bhagavān, because the Devas are entangled in enjoyments (*bhogas*), and the Dānavas are enmeshed in *Māyā*. Being engrossed in *bhogas*, the Devas find no time to know Me, and being entangled in *Māyā*, the Dānavas cannot know Me. Connection: In the previous verse, it was stated that even the Devas and Mahāṛṣis cannot fully know Bhagavān's manifestation. So, how will a human being know Bhagavān, and how will their welfare be achieved? The means to this are explained in the subsequent verses.