Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 42

English Translation

Or, on the other hand, what is the need of your knowing this extensively, O Arjuna? I remain sustaning this whole creation in a special way with a part (of Myself).

Detailed Commentary

Commentary on 10.42: With the word 'Athavā' (or 'alternatively'), Bhagavān tells Arjuna that He has already answered what Arjuna had asked. Now, from Himself, He reveals an important truth. 'Bahunaitena kim jñātena tavārjuna' – Arjuna, what need is there for you to know so much? I am seated before you, holding the reins and the whip. Though I may appear small, within a single fragment of My body reside infinite universes. I am present before you and obey your commands. Therefore, when I Myself am right before you, what need is there for you to know so many things? 'Viṣṭabhyāhamidaṁ kṛtsnam ekāṁśena sthito jagat' – I exist, pervading this entire cosmos with a single fragment of Myself. Within any fragment of Bhagavān, infinite creations are present. However, no portion of Bhagavān is constrained or 'filled' by these creations. For instance, even when our intellect contains knowledge of many languages and arts, it cannot be said to be 'full'. Even after learning numerous languages, there remains empty space in the intellect. Similarly, no fragment of Bhagavān can be filled by any creation; it remains emptier than the intellect itself. Thus, with the utterance of the divine names 'Tat' and 'Sat', the Tenth Chapter, named 'Vibhūti Yoga', in the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā, which is the Brahma-Vidyā and Yoga-Śāstra, concludes.