Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 34

English Translation

And I am Death, the destroyer of all; and the prosperity of those destined to be prosperous. Of the feminine [Narinam may mean 'of the feminine alities'. According to Sridhara Swami and S., the words fame etc. signify the goddesses of the respective alities. According to M.S. these seven goddesses are the wives of the god Dharma.-Tr.] (I am) fame, beauty, speech, memory, intelligence, fortitude and forbearance.

Detailed Commentary

।।10.34।। Explanation – 'Mrityuh sarvaharashchaham' – Death possesses an astonishing power to seize everything. After death, even the memory of this world vanishes. In reality, this power does not belong to death, but to the Supreme Being (Paramatma). If death did not possess this divinely endowed power of complete seizure and oblivion, then just as we worry about the relationships of this life, we would also worry about those of past lives. A human being has taken countless births. If the memories of those births persisted, the anxieties and attachments associated with them would never end. But due to the oblivion brought by death, there is no concern for the family, property, etc., of previous births. Thus, the power within death to eliminate worry and attachment is verily the Lord's (Bhagavan's). 'Udbhavashcha bhavishyatam' – Just as the Lord stated in the previous verse that He sustains and nourishes all, here He explains that He is also the cause of the origin of all that is to be born. He is the one who causes the creation, sustenance (sthiti), and dissolution (pralaya) of the world (samsara). 'Kirtih shrirvakcha narinam smrtirmedha dhritih kshama' – Kirti (fame), Shri (prosperity), Vak (speech), Smriti (memory), Medha (intellect), Dhriti (fortitude), and Kshama (forgiveness) – these seven are considered supreme among women. Among these, Kirti, Smriti, Medha, Dhriti, and Kshama are daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Shri is the daughter of Bhrigu Muni, and Vak is the daughter of Brahma. These seven qualities are renowned in the world. The renown one gains in the world through virtuous deeds is called Kirti. There are two types of wealth: immovable (sthavara) and movable (jangama). Land, houses, etc., are immovable, while cows, camels, etc., are movable. Both are referred to as 'Shri'. The speech (Vak) through which one gains renown in the world and is called learned is 'Vak'. The ability to recall previously heard and understood things is called 'Smriti'. The permanent power of intellect, by which knowledge is retained, is called 'Medha'. The strength to remain steadfast in one's principles is called 'Dhriti'. To forgive one who has committed an offense without reason is called 'Kshama'. Kirti, Shri, and Vak manifest externally in a being. Smriti, Medha, Dhriti, and Kshama manifest internally within a being. All these distinguishing qualities are manifestations (Vibhutis) of the Lord. These qualities are mentioned to draw attention to the Lord. When these qualities are seen in anyone, they should be recognized as a characteristic of the Lord. If these qualities are perceived within oneself, they should be attributed solely to the Lord. This is because they are divine assets (Daivi Sampatti) received from the Lord. Considering them as one's own gives rise to ego (abhiman), which leads to downfall, as ego is the mother of demonic qualities (asuri sampatti). Spiritual aspirants (sadhakas) should attribute every distinguishing quality to the Lord. For example, when Kakabhushundi became a Chandala bird due to Lomasha Rishi's curse, he felt no fear. He considered it the Lord's inspiration – 'Sunu khagesa nahi kachu risi dushana. Ura preraka Raghubansa bibhushana.' (Listen, O king of birds, there is no fault of the Rishi. The inspirer in my heart is the adornment of the Raghu lineage.) Similarly, if a person sees the Lord as the root of all circumstances, there will be joy and bliss at all times.