Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 40

English Translation

O destroyer of enemies, there is no limit to My divine manifestations. This description of (My) manifestations, however, has been stated by Me by way illustration.

Detailed Commentary

10.40. Elucidation: ‘My divine glories’ (Mama divyānāṁ vibhūtīnām) – The word 'divya' indicates uniqueness and extraordinary nature. Wherever the mind of the sādhaka (spiritual aspirant) goes, contemplating Bhagavān (the Lord) there will reveal this divinity, because there is no one as divine as Bhagavān. Devatās (deities) are also called divine, and they too desire the darśana (sight) of Bhagavān – 'nityaṁ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ' (Gita 11.52). This clarifies that only Bhagavān is truly divine and transcendental (alaukika). Therefore, all the vibhūtis (manifestations/glories) of Bhagavān are, in essence (tattva), divine. However, the divinity of these vibhūtis manifests before the sādhaka only when their sole aim is Bhagavātprāpti (attainment of the Lord), and they, free from rāga-dveṣa (attachment and aversion), contemplate only Bhagavān in them. ‘There is no end’ (Nānto’sti) – There is no end to Bhagavān's divine vibhūtis. Because Bhagavān is Ananta (infinite), His vibhūtis, gunas (qualities), and līlās (divine sports) are also infinite – 'Hari ananta Hari kathā anantā' (Mānas 1.140.5). Therefore, Bhagavān has stated in both places that there is no end to the expansion of His vibhūtis. In Śrīmad Bhāgavata, Bhagavān said that the number of atoms can be counted by Me in due time, but the end of My vibhūtis cannot be found. Bhagavān is Ananta, Asīma (boundless), and Agādha (unfathomable). From the perspective of number, Bhagavān is 'Ananta,' meaning His count cannot reach even a parārdha (a very high number). From the perspective of limit, Bhagavān is 'Asīma.' Limits are of two types – kālakṛta (temporal) and deśakṛta (spatial). Bhagavān is not bound by such limits. From the perspective of depth, Bhagavān is 'Agādha.' Agādha means that which has no bottom, being of such profound depth. ‘This exposition of My vibhūtis has been spoken by Me in brief’ (Eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto vibhūtervistaro mayā) – In the eighteenth verse, Arjuna requested Bhagavān to describe His divine vibhūtis in detail, to which Bhagavān replied that the expansion of His vibhūtis is endless. Nevertheless, out of compassion (kṛpāpūrvaka) for Arjuna's inquisitiveness (jijñāsā), Bhagavān described His vibhūtis. But this expansion is only from a worldly (laukika) perspective. Therefore, Bhagavān is saying here that the expansion I have made is only from your perspective. From My perspective, even this expansion is truly just a very brief summary, because My vibhūtis have no end. Not all the vibhūtis mentioned in this chapter are useful for everyone; rather, many other vibhūtis, not described here, also come into use. Therefore, a sādhaka should, wherever their mind is drawn to a particular specialty, consider that specialty to be Bhagavān's and meditate only on Bhagavān, whether that vibhūti is mentioned by Bhagavān here or not. Connection – In the eighteenth verse, Arjuna prayed to Bhagavān to tell him about His vibhūti and Yoga. In response, Bhagavān first described His vibhūtis, and now in the subsequent verse, He will describe His Yoga.