Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 36

English Translation

Of the fraudulent I am the gambling; I am the irresistible ?nd of the mighty. I am excellene, I am effort, I am the sattva ality of those possessed of sattva.

Detailed Commentary

10.36 Explanation — 'Dyūtam Chhalayatām Asmi' — The special art of seizing the kingdom, wealth, property, etc., of others through deceit is called gambling (Dyūta). The Lord has declared this as His Vibhūti. Doubt — If the Lord has declared gambling as His Vibhūti among those who deceive, then what fault is there in engaging in it? If there is no fault, why do the scriptures forbid it? Resolution — 'Do this and do not do that' are the injunctions of the scriptures. Here, the Vibhūtis are being described. As per Arjuna's question, the Lord explained how to remember Him in the form of His Vibhūtis. This means that wherever one looks, one should see not the world, but the Lord, because the Lord says that this universe is pervaded by Him (Gītā 9.4). For example, a Sādhaka who used to gamble is now engaged in Bhajana of the Lord. If he remembers gambling, he should remember the Lord in it, realizing that the characteristic of victory and defeat belongs to the Lord alone. By doing so, the remembrance of gambling will cease, and the remembrance of the Lord will occur. When one sees someone else gambling, one should realize that victory and defeat belong to the Lord, not to gambling. The game will end, but the Lord always remains. Thus, the import of calling gambling a Vibhūti lies in remembering the Lord. The Jīva itself is a part of Paramātma, but due to delusion, it has become attached to the body and the world. If it remembers the Lord by considering the greatness, distinctiveness, and beauty of the world as belonging to Paramātma, it will achieve liberation (Gītā 8.14); if it remembers the world, it will fall (Gītā 2.62-63). Therefore, the Vibhūtis have been described for remembering Paramātma and knowing His essence (Tattva). 'Tejas Tejasvinām Aham' — Tejas is the influence of great personalities, by which even sinners hesitate to commit sins. This Tejas is a Vibhūti of the Lord. 'Jayo 'smi' — Victory is dear to all. This is a special characteristic of the Lord, hence it is declared as a Vibhūti. One should see the Lord in the joy derived from victory. 'Vyavasāyo 'smi' — Vyavasāya means 'resolve' or 'determination'. The Lord has highly extolled determination in the Gītā; for example, the resolute intellect of a Karma-Yogī is singular (2.41), unlike that of those attached to pleasure and opulence (2.44). By the strength of determination, even a wicked person is called a Sādhu of the Lord (9.30). The determination to move towards the Lord is His Vibhūti. One should not consider this as one's own quality, but rather as the grace of the Lord. 'Sattvaṁ Sattvavatām Aham' — The Sattva quality, Sattvic disposition, and conduct of Sattvic people are also Vibhūtis of the Lord. The Sattvic disposition that develops by suppressing Rajo-guṇa and Tamo-guṇa should not be considered one's own quality, but a Vibhūti of the Lord. When one sees Tejas, Vyavasāya, Sattvic disposition, etc., in oneself or in others, one should not consider them as one's own or another person's qualities, but rather as qualities of the Lord. One should see the Lord in them and remember Him.