Krishna names his manifestations — among rivers, the Ganga; among mountains, the Himalaya; among trees, the Ashvattha; among horses, Uchchaihshrava. Wherever splendour and power shine, He is the seed.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः । यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | bhūya eva mahā-bāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ | yat te’haṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā ||
The Blessed Lord said: Hear once more, O mighty-armed, my supreme word, which I, desiring your welfare, shall speak to you who delight in it.
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः । अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ॥
na me viduḥ sura-gaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ | aham-ādir-hi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||
Neither the hosts of gods nor the great sages know my origin; for I am the source in every way of the gods and the great sages.
यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम् । असम्मूढः स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
yo mām-ajam-anādiṃ ca vetti loka-maheśvaram | asammūḍhaḥ sa martyeṣu sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate ||
One who knows me as unborn, without beginning, the great Lord of the worlds — that one, undeluded among mortals, is freed from all sins.
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः । सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ॥
buddhir-jñānam-asammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavo’bhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayam-eva ca ||
Intellect, knowledge, freedom from delusion, patience, truth, self-control, calmness; pleasure and pain, existence and non-existence, fear and fearlessness—
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः । भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः ॥
ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭis-tapo dānaṃ yaśo’yaśaḥ | bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthag-vidhāḥ ||
— non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy: these various states of being arise from me alone.
महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा । मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ॥
maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve catvāro manavas-tathā | mad-bhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṃ loka imāḥ prajāḥ ||
The seven great sages, the four earlier ones, and the Manus — born of my nature from my mind — from whom these creatures of the world descend.
एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः । सोऽविकम्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशयः ॥
etāṃ vibhūtiṃ yogaṃ ca mama yo vetti tattvataḥ | so’vikampena yogena yujyate nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
One who knows in truth this manifestation and yoga of mine is united with unwavering yoga. Of this there is no doubt.
अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते । इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः ॥
ahaṃ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṃ pravartate | iti matvā bhajante māṃ budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ ||
I am the source of all; from me everything proceeds. Knowing this, the wise worship me with hearts full of love.
मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् । कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ॥
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam | kathayantaś-ca māṃ nityaṃ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca ||
With thoughts fixed on me, with lives surrendered to me, enlightening one another, ever speaking of me — they are satisfied and they delight.
तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ॥
teṣāṃ satata-yuktānāṃ bhajatāṃ prīti-pūrvakam | dadāmi buddhi-yogaṃ taṃ yena mām-upayānti te ||
To those ever-united, worshipping me with love, I give that yoga of understanding by which they come to me.
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः । नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥
teṣām-evānukampārtham-aham-ajñāna-jaṃ tamaḥ | nāśayāmy-ātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā ||
Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their self, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge.
अर्जुन उवाच । परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् । पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥
arjuna uvāca | paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma pavitraṃ paramaṃ bhavān | puruṣaṃ śāśvataṃ divyam-ādi-devam-ajaṃ vibhum ||
Arjuna said: You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier, the eternal divine person, the primal god, unborn and all-pervading—
आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा । असितो देवलो व्यासः स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ॥
āhus-tvām-ṛṣayaḥ sarve devarṣir-nāradas-tathā | asito devalo vyāsaḥ svayaṃ caiva bravīṣi me ||
All the sages declare you so — the divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa; and you yourself say so to me.
सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव । न हि ते भगवन्व्यक्तिं विदुर्देवा न दानवाः ॥
sarvam-etad-ṛtaṃ manye yan-māṃ vadasi keśava | na hi te bhagavan vyaktiṃ vidur-devā na dānavāḥ ||
I hold all you say to me as true, O Keshava. Neither the gods nor the demons know your manifestation, O Lord.
स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम । भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥
svayam-evātmanātmānaṃ vettha tvaṃ puruṣottama | bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa deva-deva jagat-pate ||
You alone know yourself by yourself, O supreme person, source of beings, Lord of beings, God of gods, ruler of the world.
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः । याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥
vaktum-arhasy-aśeṣeṇa divyā hy-ātma-vibhūtayaḥ | yābhir-vibhūtibhir-lokān-imāṃs-tvaṃ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi ||
Pray declare to me without reserve your divine manifestations, by which you pervade and abide in these worlds.
कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् । केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया ॥
kathaṃ vidyām-ahaṃ yogiṃs-tvāṃ sadā paricintayan | keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo’si bhagavan-mayā ||
How may I know you, O yogi, by constant meditation? In what aspects, O Lord, may I think of you?
विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन । भूयः कथय तृप्तिर्हि शृण्वतो नास्ति मेऽमृतम् ॥
vistareṇātmano yogaṃ vibhūtiṃ ca janārdana | bhūyaḥ kathaya tṛptir-hi śṛṇvato nāsti me’mṛtam ||
Tell me again in detail your yoga and glory, O Janardana. For I am never satisfied hearing your nectar-like words.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः । प्राधान्यतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | hanta te kathayiṣyāmi divyā hy-ātma-vibhūtayaḥ | prādhānyataḥ kuru-śreṣṭha nāsty-anto vistarasya me ||
The Blessed Lord said: Yes, I shall tell you of my divine manifestations — the principal ones, O best of the Kurus — for there is no end to the extent of mine.
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः । अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥
aham-ātmā guḍākeśa sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ | aham-ādiś-ca madhyaṃ ca bhūtānām-anta eva ca ||
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् । मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥
ādityānām-ahaṃ viṣṇur-jyotiṣāṃ ravir-aṃśumān | marīcir-marutām-asmi nakṣatrāṇām-ahaṃ śaśī ||
Among the Adityas I am Vishnu; among lights, the radiant sun; among the Maruts I am Marichi; among nakshatras I am the moon.
वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः । इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ॥
vedānāṃ sāma-vedo’smi devānām-asmi vāsavaḥ | indriyāṇāṃ manaś-cāsmi bhūtānām-asmi cetanā ||
Of the Vedas I am the Sama; of the gods I am Indra; of the senses I am the mind; in beings I am consciousness.
रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् । वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ॥
rudrāṇāṃ śaṅkaraś-cāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām | vasūnāṃ pāvakaś-cāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇām-aham ||
Of the Rudras I am Shankara; among yakshas and rakshasas I am the lord of wealth (Kubera); of the Vasus I am Pavaka (fire); of mountain peaks I am Meru.
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् । सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः ॥
purodhasāṃ ca mukhyaṃ māṃ viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim | senānīnām-ahaṃ skandaḥ sarasām-asmi sāgaraḥ ||
Know me, O Partha, as Brihaspati, chief of household priests. Of commanders I am Skanda; of bodies of water I am the ocean.
महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् । यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालयः ॥
maharṣīṇāṃ bhṛgur-ahaṃ girām-asmy-ekam-akṣaram | yajñānāṃ japa-yajño’smi sthāvarāṇāṃ himālayaḥ ||
Of the great sages I am Bhrigu; of utterances I am the one syllable Om; of sacrifices I am the sacrifice of japa; of immovable things I am the Himalaya.
अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः । गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥
aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ | gandharvāṇāṃ citra-rathaḥ siddhānāṃ kapilo muniḥ ||
Of all trees I am the ashvattha; of divine sages, Narada; of the gandharvas, Chitraratha; of the perfected ones, the sage Kapila.
उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् । ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ॥
uccaiḥ-śravasam-aśvānāṃ viddhi mām-amṛtodbhavam | airāvataṃ gajendrāṇāṃ narāṇāṃ ca narādhipam ||
Among horses know me as Uchchaihshrava, born of nectar; among lordly elephants, Airavata; among men, the king.
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक् । प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः ॥
āyudhānām-ahaṃ vajraṃ dhenūnām-asmi kāma-dhuk | prajanaś-cāsmi kandarpaḥ sarpāṇām-asmi vāsukiḥ ||
Of weapons I am the vajra; of cows, the Kamadhenu; of progenitors, Kandarpa; of serpents, Vasuki.
अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् । पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम् ॥
anantaś-cāsmi nāgānāṃ varuṇo yādasām-aham | pitṝṇām-aryamā cāsmi yamaḥ saṃyamatām-aham ||
Of nagas I am Ananta; of water-deities I am Varuna; of ancestors I am Aryaman; of controllers I am Yama.
प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः कलयतामहम् । मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ॥
prahlādaś-cāsmi daityānāṃ kālaḥ kalayatām-aham | mṛgāṇāṃ ca mṛgendro’haṃ vainateyaś-ca pakṣiṇām ||
Among the daityas I am Prahlada; of reckoners I am Time; of beasts I am the lion; of birds I am Garuda.
पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् । झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ॥
pavanaḥ pavatām-asmi rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām-aham | jhaṣāṇāṃ makaraś-cāsmi srotasām-asmi jāhnavī ||
Of purifiers I am the wind; of wielders of weapons I am Rama; of fishes I am the makara; of rivers I am the Ganga (Jahnavi).
सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन । अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः प्रवदतामहम् ॥
sargāṇām-ādir-antaś-ca madhyaṃ caivāham-arjuna | adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāṃ vādaḥ pravadatām-aham ||
I am the beginning, end, and middle of creations, O Arjuna. Of knowledges I am the knowledge of the Self; of debaters I am the logic.
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च । अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुखः ॥
akṣarāṇām-akāro’smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca | aham-evākṣayaḥ kālo dhātāhaṃ viśvato-mukhaḥ ||
Of letters I am the letter A; of compounds I am the dvandva. I am the imperishable Time; I am the all-faced sustainer.
मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम् । कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा ॥
mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś-cāham-udbhavaś-ca bhaviṣyatām | kīrtiḥ śrīr-vāk-ca nārīṇāṃ smṛtir-medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā ||
I am all-destroying death and the source of all yet to come. Among feminine qualities — fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, steadiness, patience.
बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् । मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः ॥
bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṃ gāyatrī chandasām-aham | māsānāṃ mārga-śīrṣo’ham-ṛtūnāṃ kusumākaraḥ ||
Of Sama hymns I am the Brihat-Sama; of meters, the Gayatri; of months, Margashirsha; of seasons, spring (the flower-bearer).
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् । जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥
dyūtaṃ chalayatām-asmi tejas-tejasvinām-aham | jayo’smi vyavasāyo’smi sattvaṃ sattvavatām-aham ||
Of deceivers I am the gambling; the brilliance of the brilliant; I am victory, I am resolve, I am the goodness of the good.
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः । मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ॥
vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo’smi pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaḥ | munīnām-apy-ahaṃ vyāsaḥ kavīnām-uśanā kaviḥ ||
Of the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva; of the Pandavas, Dhananjaya (Arjuna); of sages I am Vyasa; of poets I am Ushanas the poet.
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् । मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ॥
daṇḍo damayatām-asmi nītir-asmi jigīṣatām | maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatām-aham ||
Of restrainers I am the rod; of seekers of victory I am right policy; of secrets I am silence; the wisdom of the wise.
यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन । न तदस्ति विना यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम् ॥
yac-cāpi sarva-bhūtānāṃ bījaṃ tad-aham-arjuna | na tad-asti vinā yat syān-mayā bhūtaṃ carācaram ||
And whatever is the seed of all beings — that I am, O Arjuna. Nothing moving or unmoving exists without me.
नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परन्तप । एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ॥
nānto’sti mama divyānāṃ vibhūtīnāṃ paran-tapa | eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto vibhūter-vistaro mayā ||
There is no end to my divine manifestations, O scorcher of foes. What I have told you is but the principal extent of my glories.
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा । तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोऽंशसम्भवम् ॥
yad-yad-vibhūtimat-sattvaṃ śrīmad-ūrjitam-eva vā | tat-tad-evāvagaccha tvaṃ mama tejo’ṃśa-sambhavam ||
Whatever being has glory, brilliance, or vigour — know that to be born of a fragment of my splendour.
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन । विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥
athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna | viṣṭabhyāham-idaṃ kṛtsnam-ekāṃśena sthito jagat ||
But what need is there of all this knowledge, O Arjuna? With a single fragment of myself, I support and abide in this entire universe.