Verse 16
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः | याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि || १६ ||
Transliteration
vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imāṁs tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi
Synonyms
vaktum—to say; arhasi—You deserve; aśeṣeṇa—in detail; divyāḥ—divine; hi—certainly; ātma-vibhūtayaḥ—Your personal opulences; yābhiḥ—by which; vibhūtibhiḥ—by opulences; lokān—all the planets; imān—these; tvam—You; vyāpya—pervading; tiṣṭhasi—remain.
Translation
“Please tell me in detail of Your divine manifestations by which You pervade and sustain all these worlds.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Arjuna's request is pedagogically important. He is not merely curious; he wants a method for perceiving the Divine everywhere. By listing His vibhūtis, Krishna will train Arjuna's — and our — eye to see the fingerprint of the Infinite in every finite excellence. This is practical training in living in a sacred world.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
Ask yourself: where do I most powerfully sense the presence of something greater than ordinary life? In music, in mathematics, in a thunderstorm, in a newborn's face? Each answer is a doorway. Begin with those doorways and practice consciously recognizing the divine signature in them. Slowly, the recognition will spread to include everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.16 mean?
Please tell me in detail of Your divine manifestations by which You pervade and sustain all these worlds.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 10.16?
vaktum—to say; arhasi—You deserve; aśeṣeṇa—in detail; divyāḥ—divine; hi—certainly; ātma-vibhūtayaḥ—Your personal opulences; yābhiḥ—by which; vibhūtibhiḥ—by opulences; lokān—all the planets; imān—these; tvam—You; vyāpya—pervading; tiṣṭhasi—remain.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 10.16 in daily life?
Ask yourself: where do I most powerfully sense the presence of something greater than ordinary life? In music, in mathematics, in a thunderstorm, in a newborn's face? Each answer is a doorway. Begin with those doorways and practice consciously recognizing the divine signature in them. Slowly, the recognition will spread to include everything.