Vibhuti Yoga
The divine glories. Wherever you find excellence, strength, beauty, wisdom, Krishna is its seed. A chapter to read slowly and look around.
All 42 verses of this chapter on one page. Read straight through, or press play and follow each verse as it is recited.
श्री भगवानुवाच भूय एव महाबाहो श्रृणु मे परमं वचः । यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ॥
The Blessed Lord said: Listen again, O mighty-armed one, to my supreme word, which I will speak for your welfare because you are deeply dear to me.
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः । अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ॥
The hosts of devas do not know my origin, nor do the great sages, for I am the beginning of the devas and the great sages in every way.
यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम् । असम्मूढः स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
One who knows Me as unborn, beginningless, and the great lord of all worlds is undeluded among mortals and is freed from every wrong deed.
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसंमोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः । सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ॥
Understanding, wisdom, freedom from confusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, pleasure, pain, coming into being, ceasing to be, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, evenness, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and disgrace arise from me alone.
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः । भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः ॥
Nonviolence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, honor, and dishonor—all these different states of beings arise from Me alone.
महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा । मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ॥
The seven great sages, the four ancient sages, and the fourteen Manus were born from my mind. The people of these worlds descend from them.
एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः । सोऽविकम्पेन योगेन युज्यते नात्र संशयः ॥
One who truly knows this glory and this yoga of mine becomes steadfast in yoga without doubt.
अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते । इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः ॥
I am the source of all; everything moves from me. Knowing this, the wise worship me with wholehearted devotion.
मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् । कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ॥
With minds fixed on Me and lives offered to Me, My devotees speak of Me to one another, and find continual joy in that shared devotion.
तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ॥
To those who are always devoted and worship Me with love, I give the discernment that leads them to Me.
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः । नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥
To show them compassion, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge, dwelling in their own being.
अर्जुन उवाच परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् । पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥
Arjuna said: You are the supreme reality, the highest refuge, the purest one, the eternal divine person, the first being, unborn, and all-pervading.
आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा । असितो देवलो व्यासः स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ॥
All the sages speak of you this way: the divine sage Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa. You yourself also say this to me.
सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव । न हि ते भगवन् व्यक्तिं विदुर्देवा न दानवाः ॥
I accept as true all that you have said, O Keshava. O Bhagavan, neither the devas nor the asuras know your manifested form.
स्वयमेवात्मनाऽत्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम । भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥
O Supreme Person, you alone know yourself by yourself, O source of all beings, lord of all beings, divine of the divine, ruler of the world.
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः । याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥
Only you can fully describe your own divine manifestations, by which you pervade and sustain all these worlds.
कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् । केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया ॥
O Yogi, how shall I know You by constant contemplation? In what forms should You be contemplated, O Blessed One?
विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन । भूयः कथय तृप्तिर्हि श्रृण्वतो नास्ति मेऽमृतम् ॥
O Janardana, tell me again in detail of Your yogic power and Your manifestations, for I am not satisfied hearing Your nectar-like words.
श्री भगवानुवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः । प्राधान्यतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे ॥
Krishna said: I will tell you briefly of my divine manifestations, chief of them, Arjuna, for there is no end to their विस्तार.
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः । अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् । मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥
Among the sons of Aditi, I am Vishnu; among radiant things, I am the sun with rays. I am the brilliance in the Maruts, and among stars, I am the moon.
वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः । इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ॥
Among the Vedas, I am the Sama Veda; among the radiant beings, I am Indra. Among the senses, I am the mind; among living beings, I am consciousness.
रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् । वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ॥
Among the Rudras, I am Shankara; among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am Kubera. Among the Vasus, I am fire, and among mountain peaks, I am Mount Meru.
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् । सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः ॥
Among priests, know Me as Brihaspati; among commanders, I am Skanda; among waters, I am the ocean.
महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् । यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालयः ॥
Among great sages I am Bhrigu; among words I am the one imperishable syllable. Among sacrifices I am the sacrifice of silent repetition; among the steadfast I am the Himalayas.
अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः । गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥
Among all trees I am the sacred fig tree. Among divine sages I am Narada; among celestial musicians, Chitraratha; among perfected sages, the sage Kapila.
उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् । ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ॥
Among horses, know me as Ucchaihshravas, born from nectar. Among royal elephants, I am Airavata, and among humans, I am the king.
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक् । प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः ॥
Among weapons, I am the thunderbolt; among cows, I am the wish-fulfilling cow. I am the cause of procreation, and among serpents, I am Vasuki.
अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् । पितृ़णामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम् ॥
Among serpents I am Ananta; among water beings I am Varuna. Among ancestors I am Aryaman; among those who govern, I am Yama.
प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः कलयतामहम् । मृगाणां च मृगेन्द्रोऽहं वैनतेयश्च पक्षिणाम् ॥
Among the daityas I am Prahlada; among calculators I am Time. Among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda.
पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् । झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ॥
Among purifiers, I am the wind. Among wielders of weapons, I am Rama. Among aquatic beings, I am the crocodile. Among flowing rivers, I am the Ganga.
सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन । अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः प्रवदतामहम् ॥
I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all creation, Arjuna. Among all forms of knowledge, I am the knowledge of the true self; among speakers, I am the reasoned debate that seeks truth.
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च । अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताऽहं विश्वतोमुखः ॥
Among letters I am the letter A. Among compounds I am the dual compound. I am endless time itself, and I am the all-facing sustainer.
मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम् । कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा ॥
I am death that takes everything, and the source of all future beings. Among women, I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness.
बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् । मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः ॥
Among hymns I am the Brihat-Sama; among meters I am Gayatri. Among months I am Margashirsha; among seasons I am spring.
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् । जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥
Among deceivers I am gambling, among the vigorous I am splendor. I am victory, I am resolve, and I am the goodness of the good.
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनंजयः । मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ॥
Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva; among the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya. Among sages I am Vyasa, and among poets I am Ushana, the poet.
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् । मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ॥
Among enforcers, I am punishment; among those seeking victory, I am policy. Among secrets, I am silence; among the wise, I am knowledge.
यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन । न तदस्ति विना यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरम् ॥
Arjuna, I am the seed of all beings. Without me, nothing moving or unmoving could exist.
नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परंतप । एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ॥
O scorcher of foes, my divine manifestations have no end. What I have described to you is only a brief summary of my vast manifestations.
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा । तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसंभवम् ॥
Whatever being or thing is endowed with splendour, beauty, or power—know that to have arisen from a spark of my radiance.
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन । विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥
Or, Arjuna, what is the need for all this detailed knowledge? I sustain this entire universe with a single fragment of myself.