Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 25

English Translation

Among the great sages I am Bhrgu; of words I am the single syllable (Om) [Om is the best because it is the name as well as the symbol of Brahman.]. Among rituals I am the ritual of Japa [Japa, muttering prayers-repeating passages from the Vedas, silently repeating names of deities, etc. Rituals often involve killing of animals. But Japa is free from such injury, and hence the best.] of the immovables, the Himalaya.

Detailed Commentary

**10.25** Explanation— 'Among the great sages, I am Bhrigu.' Among the great Rishis like Bhrigu, Atri, Marichi, etc., Bhriguji is a great devotee, wise, and effulgent. It was these very great Rishis who tested Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh and established Lord Vishnu as supreme. Lord Vishnu bears the footprint of Bhrigu on His chest in the form of 'Bhrigulata'. Therefore, the Lord has declared him to be His **Vibhuti**. 'Among words, I am the single syllable (Om).' First, Pranava, consisting of three *matras*, manifested. Then, from Pranava emerged the three-footed Gayatri, from the three-footed Gayatri came the Vedas, and from the Vedas manifested the entire world of literature, including Shastras, Puranas, etc. Being the cause of all these and supreme among them, the Lord has declared the single syllable Pranava to be His **Vibhuti**. Its description is found in the Gita, such as 'Pranavah Sarvavedeshu' (7.8) - 'Among all the Vedas, I am Pranava'; 'Omityekaksharam Brahma vyaharannamanusmaran. Yah prayati tyajandeham sa yati paramam gatim.' (8.13) - 'That person who departs, leaving the body, while uttering this one-syllable Pranava (Om) and remembering the Lord, attains the supreme destination'; 'Tasmadomityudahṛitya yajñadanatapahkriyah. Pravartante vidhanoktah satatam brahmavadinam' (17.24) - Among the Vedic people, the ritualistic actions of Yajna, Dana, and Tapas, prescribed by the scriptures, constantly commence with the utterance of Pranava. 'Among Yajnas, I am Japa-Yajna.' In all the Yajnas performed with mantras, numerous items and procedures are required, and some fault inevitably occurs in them. However, in Japa-Yajna, that is, in the chanting of the divine name, no item or procedure is required. No fault arises in performing it; rather, all faults are destroyed. Everyone is free to perform it. While the names of the Lord differ among various traditions, everyone—Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain—believes that chanting the names leads to welfare. Therefore, the Lord has declared Japa-Yajna to be His **Vibhuti**. 'Among the immovables, I am the Himalayas.' Among the stable mountains, the Himalayas, being a place of **Tapasya**, is a great sacred site and the overlord of all. All the sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, etc., originate from the Himalayas. The Himalayas are very helpful in attaining God. Even today, many Yogis and Saints perform **Sadhana** in the caves of the Himalayas. The Nara-Narayana Rishis are also performing **Tapasya** in the Himalayas to this day. It is the paternal home of Lord Shankara's wife, and Shankara Himself resides on one of its peaks, Mount Kailasa. Therefore, the Lord has declared the Himalayas to be His **Vibhuti**. Whatever special quality is seen in the world, if one considers it to be worldly, one gets entangled in it, and one's downfall occurs. But here the Lord provides a simple solution: wherever your mind is attracted by some special quality, understand it to be My special quality. This special quality belongs to the Lord and has come from the Lord; it is not of the world. If you understand this, your attraction will be towards Me, and you will contemplate on Me alone, which will lead to your love for Me.