A declaration · expansive in mood · a little context helps
“No list can contain the divine's endless expressions.”
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.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyno end · there is · of my · of the divine · manifestations · O scorcher of foes · this · only · in brief · spoken · of manifestations · expanse · by me
Krishna tells Arjuna that his divine manifestations are limitless, and the examples already given are only a brief outline.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vibhuti Yoga" (The Yoga of Divine Glories).
Verse 40 sits in Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, "The Yoga of Divine Glories". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
You finally understand one person’s brilliance, then another side of them appears that you never expected. The lesson is humbling: reality always exceeds the list you made.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts the mind from trying to contain the divine in examples to recognising endless presence beyond them.
What this verse means
Krishna tells Arjuna that his divine manifestations are limitless, and the examples already given are only a brief outline.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is hearing Krishna explain how the divine presence appears through countless forms. After naming a few examples, Krishna says those are only a summary, because his manifestations have no limit.
Why this verse still matters
You finally understand one person’s brilliance, then another side of them appears that you never expected. The lesson is humbling: reality always exceeds the list you made.
“The world is bigger than your current view, and the sacred can never be fully exhausted by examples.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti (43 verses)