Chapter Nine

The Most Confidential Knowledge.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said :  My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence. (9/1).

This knowledge is the kind of education, the most secret of all secrets.  It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion.  It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed. (9/2).

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies.  Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world. (9/3).

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded.  All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. (9/4).

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me.  Behold My mystic opulence!  Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation. (9/5).

Understand that as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, all created beings rest in Me.  (9/6).

O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium all material manifestations enter into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency, I create them again. (9/7).

The whole cosmic order is under Me.  Under My will it is automatically manifested again and again, and under My will it is annihilated at the end. (9/8).

O Dhananjaya, all this work cannot bind Me.  I am ever detached from all these material activities, scated as though neutral. (9/9).

This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and non-moving beings.  Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. (9/10).

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form.  They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be. (9/11).

Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and athestic views.  In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated. (9/12).

O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature.  They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible. (9/13).

Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, this great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion. (9/14).

Others, who engage in sacrifice by the cultivation of knowledge, worship the Supreme Lord as the one without a second, as diverse in many, and in the universal form. (9/15).

But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering. (9/16).

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire.  I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om.  I am the Rg, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas (9/17).

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend.  I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed. (9/18).

O Arjuna, I give heat, and I withhold and send forth the rain.  I am immortality, and I am also death personified.  Both spirit and matter are in Me. (9/19).

Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly.  Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights. (9/20).

When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again.  Thus those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the three Vedas achieve only repeated birth and death. (9/21).

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form - to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have. (9/22).

Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way. (9/23).

I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices.  Therefore, those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down. (9/24).

Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me. (9/25).

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it. (9/26).

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform - do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me. (9/27).

In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results.  With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me. (9/28).

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone.  I am equal to all.  But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him. (9/29).

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.(9/30).

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace.  O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes. (9/31).

O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth - women, vaisyas [merchants] and sudras [workers] - can attain the supreme destination. (9/32).

How much more this is so of the righteous brahmanas, the devotees and the saintly kings.  Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me. (9/33).

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me.  Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. (9/34).

Chapter Ten

The Opulence Of the Absolute.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said : Listen again, O mightyarmed Arjuna.  Because you are My dear friend, for your benefit I shall speak to you further, giving knowledge that is better than what I have already explained. (10/1).

Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin or opulences, for, in every respect, I am the source of the demigods and sages. (10/2).

He who knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds - he only, undeluded among men, is freed from all sins. (10/3).

Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone. (10/4,5).

The seven great sages and before them the four other great sages and the Manus [progenitors of mankind] come from Me, born from My mind, and all the living beings populating the various planets descend from them.(10/6).

One who is factually convinced of this opulence and mystic power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt. (10/7).

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds.  Everything emanates from Me.  The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship  Me with all their hearts. (10/8).

The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. (10/9).

To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. (10/10).

To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance. (10/11).

Arjuna said :  You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth.  You are the eternal transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest.  All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. (10/12,13).

O Krsna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me.  Neither the demigods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality. (10/14).

Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own internal potency, O Supreme Person, origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, Lord of the universe! (10/15).

Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulences by which You pervade all these worlds. (10/16).

O Krsna, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You?  In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme Personality of Godhead? (10/17).

O Janardana, again please describe in detail the mystic power of Your opulences.  I am never satiated in hearing about You, for the more I hear the more I want to taste the nectar of Your words. (10/18).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said :  Yes, I will tell your of My splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless. (10/19).

I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities.  I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all begins. (10/20).

Of the Adityas I am Visnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon. (10/21).

Of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living force [consciousness]. (10/22).

Of all the Rudras I am Lord Siva, of the Yaksas and Raksasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera], of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru. (10/23).

Of priests, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Brhaspati.  Of generals I am Kartikeya, and of bodies of water I am the ocean. (10/24).

Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental om.  Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas. (10/25).

Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada.  Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected being I am the sage Kapila. (10/26).

Of horses know Me to be Uccaihsrava, produced during the churning of the ocean for nectar.  Of lordly elephants I am Airavata, and among men I am the monarch. (10/27).

Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am the surabhi.  Of causes for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love, and of serpents I am Vasuki. (10/28).

Of the many-hooded Nagas I am Ananta, and among the aquatics I am the demigod Varuna.  Of departed ancestors I am Aryama, and among the dispensers of law I am Yama, the lord of death. (10/29).

Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlada, among subduers I am time, among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda. (10/30).

Of purifiers I am the wind, of the wieldrs of weapons I am Rama, of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganges. (10/31).

Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna.  Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth. (10/32).

Of letters I am the letter A, and among compound words I am the dual compound.  I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahma. (10/33).

I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be.  Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience. (10/34).

Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brhat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri.  Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring. (10/35).

I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor.  I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong. (10/36).

Of the descendants of Vrsni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavavs I am Arjuna.  Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana. (10/37).

Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment, and of those who seek victory I am morality.  Of secret things I am silence, and of the wise I am the wisdom. (10/38).

Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences.  There is no being - moving or nonmoving - that can exist without Me. (10/39).

O mighty conqueror of enemies, there is no end of My divine manifestations.  What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite opulences. (10/40).

Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor. (10/41).

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe. (10/42).

Chapter Eleven

The Universal Form

Arjuna said : By my hearing the instructions You have kindly given me about these most confidential spiritual subjects, my illusion has now been dispelled. (11/1).

O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the app[earance and disappearance of every living entity and have realized Your inexhaustible glories. (11/2).

O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation.  I want to see that form of Yours. (11/3).

If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that unlimited universal Self. (11/4).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said : My dear Arjuna, O son of Prtha, see now My opulences, hundres of thousands of varied divine and multicoloured forms. (11/5).

O best of the Bharatas, see here the different manifestations of Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Asvini-kumaras and all the other demigods.  Behold the many wonderful things which no one has even seen or heard of before. (11/6).

O Arjuna, whatever you wish to see, behold at once in this body of Mine!  This universal form can show you whatever you now desire to see and whatever you may want to see in the future.  Everything - moving and nonoving - is here completely, in one place. (11/7).

But you cannot see Me with your present eyes.  Therefore I give you divine eyes.  Behold My mystic opulence! (11/8).

Sanjaya said : O King, having spoken thus, the Supreme Lord of all mystic power, the Personality of Godhead, displayed His universal form of Arjuna. (11/9).

Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eys, unlimited wonderful visions.  The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons.  He wore celestial garlands and garments, and many divine scents were smeared over His body.  All was wondrous, brilliant, unlimited, all-expanding. (11/10,11).

If hundreds of thousand of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their rediance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form. (11/12).

At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousand. (11/13).

Then, bewildered and astonished, his hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head to offer obeisances and with folded hands began to pray to the Supreme Lord. (11/14).

Arjuna said : My dear Lord Krsna, I see assembled in Your body all the demigods and various other living entities.  I see Brahma sitting on the lotus flower, as well as Lord Siva and all the sages and divine serpents. (11/15).

O Lord of the universe, O universal form, I see in Your body many, many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, expanded everywhere, without limit.  I see in You no end, no middle and no beginning. (11/16).

Your form is difficult to see because of its glaring effulgence, spreading on all sides, like blazing fire or the immeasurable radiance of the sun.  Yet I see this glowing form every where, adorned with various crowns, clubs and discs. (11/17).

You are the supreme primal objective.  You are the ultimate resting place of all this universe.  You are inexhaustible, and You are the oldest.  You are the maintainer of the eternal religion, the Personality of Godhead.  This is my opinion. (11/18).

You are without origin, middle or end.  Your glory is unlimited.  You have numberless arms, and the sun and moon are Your eyes.  I see You with blazing fire coming forth from Your mouth, burning this entire universe by Your own radiance. (11/19).

Although You are one, You spread throughout the sky and the planets and all space between.  O great one, seeing this wondrous and terrible form, all the planetary systems are perturbed. (11/20).

All the hosts of demigods are surrendering before You are entering into You.  Some of them, very much afraid, are offering prayers with folded hands.  Hosts of great sages and perfected beings, crying “All peace!” are praying to You by singing the Vedic hymns. (11/21).

All the various manifestations of Lord Siva, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Sandhyas, the Visvedevas, the two Asvis, the Maruts, the fore-fathers, the Gandharvas, the Yaksas, the Asuras and the perfected demigods are beholding You in wonder. (11/22).

O mighty-armed one, all the planets with their demigods are disturbed at seeing Your great form, with its many faces, eyes, arms, things, legs, and bellies and Your many terrible teeth; and as they are disturbed, so am I. (11/23).

O all-pervading Visnu, seeing You with Your many radiant colors touching the sky, Your gaping mouths, and Your great glowing eyes, my mind is perturbed by fear.  I can no longer maintain my stediness or equilibrium of mind. (11/24).

O Lord of lords, O refuge of the worlds, please be gracious to me.  I cannot keep my balance seeing thus Your balzing deathlike faces and awful teeth.  In all directions I am bewildered. (11/25).

All the sons of Dhrtarastra, along with their allied kings, and Bhisma, Drona, Karna - and our chief soldiers also - are rushing into Your fearful mouths.  And some I see trapped with heads smashed between Your teeth. (11/26,27).

As the many waves of the rivers flow into the ocean, so do all these great warriours enter blazing into Your mouths. (11/28).

I see all people rushing full speed into Your mouths, as moths dash to destruction in a blazing fire. (11/29).

O Visnu, I see You devouring all people from all sides with Your flaming mouths.  Covering all the universe with Your effulgence, You are manifest with terrible, scorching rays. (11/30).

O Lord of lords, so fierce of form, please tell me who You are.  I offer my obeisances unto You; please be gracious to me.  You are the primal Lord.  I want to know about You, for I do not know what Your mission is. (11/31).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead siad : Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people.  With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain. (11/32).

Therefore get up.  Prepare to fight and win glory.  Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom.  They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasaci, can be but an instrument in the fight. (11/33).

Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other great warrious have already been destroyed by Me.  Therefore, kill them and do not be disturbed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies in battle. (11/34).

Sanjaya said to Dhrtrastra : O King, after hearing these words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the trembling Arjuna offered obeisances with folded hands again and again.  He dearfully spoke to Lord Krsna in a faltering voice, as follows. (11/35).

Arjuna said : O master of the senses, the world becomes joyful upon hearing Your name, and thus everyone becomes attached to You.  Although the perfected beings offer You their respectful homage, the demons are afraid, and they flee here and there.  All this is rightly done. (11/36).

O great one, greater even than Brahma, You are the original creator.  Why then should they not offer their respectful obeisances unto You?  O limitless one, God of gods, refuge of the universe!  You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to tis material manifestation. (11/37).

You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world.  You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable.  You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form!  This whole cosmic manufestation is prevaded by You!. (11/38).

You are air, and You are the supreme controller!  You are fire, You are water, and You are the moon!  You are Brahma, the first living creature, and You are the great-grandfather.  I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again!. (11/39).

Obeisances to You from the front, from behind and from all sides!  O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless might!  You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything!. (11/40).

Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You “O Krsna,”  “O Yadava,” “O my friend”, not knowing Your glories.  Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love.  I have dishonoured You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes along and sometimes in front of many friends.  O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses. (11/41, 42).

You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving.  You are its worshipable chief, the supreme spiritual master.  No one is equal to You.  nor can anyone be one with You.  How then could there be anyone greater than You witin the three worlds, O Lord of immeasurable power? (11/43).

You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshped by every living being.  Thus I fall down to offer You my respectful obeisances and ask Your mercy.  Asa father tolerates the impudence of his son, a friend the impertinence of a friend, or a wife the familiarity of her partner, please tolerate the wrongs I may have done You. (11/45).

After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear.  Therefore please bestow Your grace upon me and reveal again Your form as the Personality of Godhead, O Lord of lords, O abode of the universe. (11/45).

O universal form, O thousand-armed Lord, I wish to see You in Your four-armed form, with helmeted head and with club, wheel, conch and lotus flower in Your hands.  I long to see You in that form. (11/46).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said :  My dear Arjuna, happily have I shown you, by My internal potency, this supreme universal form within the material worlds.  No one before you has ever seen this primal form, unlimited and full of glaring effulgence. (11/47).

O best of the Kuru warriours, no one before you has ever seen this universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas, nor by performing sacrifices, nor by charity, nor by pious activities, nor by severe penances can I be seen in this form in the material world. (11/48).

You have been perturbed and bewildered by seeing this horrible feature of Mine.  Now let it be finished.  My devotee, be free again from all distrubances.  With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire. (11/49).

Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra : The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, having spoken thus to Arjuna, displayed His real four-armed form and at last showed His two-armed form, thus encouraging the fearful Arjuna. (11/50).

When Arjuna thus saw Krsna in His original form, he said : O Janardana, seeing this humanlike form, so very beautiful, I am now composed in mind, and I am restored to my original nature. (11/51).

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said : My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold.  Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear. (11/52).

The form your are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship.  It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am. (11/53).

My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly.  Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding. (11/54).

My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being - he certainly comes to Me. (11/55).

                                                     chapter12-16