Bg. 10.42

BG 10.42
Srila Prabhupada 100+

Devanagari

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन । विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥ ४२ ॥

Verse text

atha vā bahunaitena kiṁ jṣātena tavārjuna viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam ekāṁśena sthito jagat

Synonyms

atha vā or ; bahunā many ; etena by this kind ; kim what ; jṣātena by knowing ; tava your ; arjuna O Arjuna ; viṣṭabhya pervading ; aham I ; idam this ; kṛtsnam entire ; eka by one ; aṁśena part ; sthitaḥ am situated ; jagat universe.

Translation

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

42. But what is the use of all this knowledge for you, Arjuna? Please understand: by just one portion of Myself, I am firmly established in this universe.

Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

42. But what is the use of knowing all these individual vibhūtis, Arjuna? Please understand: by just one portion of Myself, I am firmly established in this universe.

Purport

The Supreme Lord is represented throughout the entire material universes by His entering into all things as the Supersoul. The Lord here tells Arjuna that there is no point in understanding how things exist in their separate opulence and grandeur. He should know that all things are existing due to Kṛṣṇa’s entering them as Supersoul. From Brahmā, the most gigantic entity, on down to the smallest ant, all are existing because the Lord has entered each and all and is sustaining them. There is a Mission that regularly propounds that worship of any demigod will lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the supreme goal. But worship of demigods is thoroughly discouraged herein because even the greatest demigods like Brahmā and Śiva represent only part of the opulence of the Supreme Lord. He is the origin of everyone born, and no one is greater than Him. He is asamaurdhva, which means that no one is superior to Him and that no one is equal to Him. In the Padma Purāṇa it is said that one who considers the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in the same category with demigods – be they even Brahmā or Śiva – becomes at once an atheist. If, however, one thoroughly studies the different descriptions of the opulences and expansions of Kṛṣṇa’s energy, then one can understand without any doubt the position of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and can fix his mind in the worship of Kṛṣṇa without deviation. The Lord is all-pervading by the expansion of His partial representation, the Supersoul, who enters into everything that is. Pure devotees, therefore, concentrate their minds in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in full devotional service; therefore they are always situated in the transcendental position. Devotional service and worship of Kṛṣṇa are very clearly indicated in this chapter in verses 8 through 11. That is the way of pure devotional service. How one can attain the highest devotional perfection of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been thoroughly explained in this chapter. Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, a great ācārya in disciplic succession from Kṛṣṇa, concludes his commentary on this chapter by saying, yac-chakti-leśāt sūryādyā bhavanty aty-ugra-tejasaḥ yad-aṁśena dhṛtaṁ viśvaṁ sa kṛṣṇo daśame ’rcyate From Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potent energy even the powerful sun gets its power, and by Kṛṣṇa’s partial expansion the whole world is maintained. Therefore Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is worshipable. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Tenth Chapter of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of the Opulence of the Absolute.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Know the results that come from these many separate pieces of knowledge. By one portion alone, by the Paramātmā in human form, fixing Myself (viṣṭabhya) in the world which I have created, supporting this created world by being its basis, superintending the world by being its ruler, controlling the world by being its controller, pervading the world by being pervasive, and creating the world by beings its cause, I am situated in this world. Everything in this universe is Kṛṣṇa alone, and He is thus worthy of service. By intelligence given by that realization, one should taste His sweetness. This has been explained in this chapter. Here ends the commentaries on the tenth chapter of the Gītā for the pleasure of the devotees’ minds, by the mercy of the ācāryas.

Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

Having explained the vibhūtis individually, the Lord now speaks of them as a whole. What is the necessity for you of this knowledge of vibhūtis which are being taught one by one (bahunā). O Arjuna! I remain firmly fixed within all the universe headed by Śiva and Brahmā, which is composed of matter and jīvas as I create it by My power of creation, and contain it by My power of containment, [Note: Everything is in Me.] pervade it by My power of pervasion, [Note: I am in everything.] and maintain it by My powers of maintenance, by just one of My parts, the three puruṣas as antaryāmīs of prakṛti, samṣṭi jīva and vyaṣṭi jīva. It should be understood that creation, containment, pervasion and maintenance are all My vibhūtis. Since I pervade everything, all the wonderful or powerful objects should be understood as My vibhūtis. In the tenth chapter, Kṛṣṇa is worshipped as the person whose one portion upholds the universe, and by a fraction of whose power the sun and other personalities have their profound powers. Chapter 11

Surrender Unto Me

Whatever is seen, not only the extraordinary things that were mentioned by Krsna, is supported by Krsna's potency. And Srila Prabhupada says in his Purport: "If, however, one thoroughly studies the different descriptions of the opulences and expansions of Krsna's energy, then one can understand without any doubt the position of Lord Sri Krsna and can fix his mind in the worship of Krsna without deviation. The Lord is all‑pervading by the expansion of His partial representation, the Supersoul, who enters into everything that is. Pure devotees, therefore, concentrate their minds in Krsna consciousness in full devotional service; therefore they are always situated in the transcendental position. Devotional service and worship of Krsna are very clearly indicated in chapter in verses eight through eleven. That is the way of pure devotional service." THUS ENDS THE STUDY OF CHAPTER TEN. QUESTIONS FOR HOME WORK: Verses 1‑7 1. Describe the meaning of word "Bhagavan." 2. How is Krsna different from the demigods? from the living entities? 3. What is real auspiciousness? 4. Define asammoha, satyam, ksama, sama, ahimsa, and samata. 5. Summarize the verse 10.7 and the purport. Verses 8‑11 1. Summarize the arguments and references from the purport to verse 10.8 showing that Krsna is the source of all demigods. 2. Explain Lord Caitanya's analogy of a seed. 3. Define and describe "buddhi yoga." 4. How does Krsna help the less intelligent devotee? 5. Summarize the purport to the verse 10.11 Verse 12‑18 1. Cite three Vedic evidences to confirm Arjuna's prayers in verses 10.12‑13. 2. What truth does Arjuna want to establish by speaking verse 15? 3. Why does Arjuna ask Krsna to explain his opulences? 4. Summaize the main point of the verse 10. 17 and the purport. 5. Explain the significance of the word "amrtam." Verse 19‑38 1. Why is it not possible to comprehend the greatness of Krsna or His opulences? 2. Explain the significance of the word "vibhuti." 3. List and explain any ten opulences of your choice. 4. What is Gayatri? Who is the initiator of Gayatri and how is it available to us? 5. Name and define the two kinds of expansions of the Lord. Verses 39‑42 1. How is Krsna the seed of everything? 2. How does a devotee relate to the wonderful and glorious things in the world? 3. Explain the word "asamurdhva." 4. Write in one sentence the conclusion of this section.