BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 10

THE YOGA OF THE DIVINE GLORIES

Knowing Arjuna's desire to hear of the most secret attributes, glory and truth of the Supreme Lord, Krishna tells Arjuna that neither the gods nor sages know His origin because He is the source of all. He, who knows that He is unborn, without beginning and the Supreme Lord of the universe, is undiluted and is liberated from all sins. From Him alone do all the different qualities of beings: understanding, wisdom, non-illusion, patience, truthfulness, self-control, calmness, happiness, pain, birth, death, fear and fearlessness arise. He who knows in truth the manifold manifestations and supernatural powers of the Lord, without doubt, gets established in yoga. The wise worship Him with devotion, surrender themselves to Him, meditate on Him and rejoice in Him. They attain the yoga of discrimination. He destroys the darkness of their ignorance by the shining lamp of wisdom. Arjuna asks Krishna to describe His divine glories.

In chapter 10 Krishna describes His glories. He explains the technique for meditation, how one can take the mind from grosser to subtler levels of consciousness so as to reach pure consciousness. The mind is always extroverted and depends upon sensory perception. When one is convinced, then the mind will begin to perceive, even in the grosser level of sensory perception, the essence of the object, i.e., consciousness, which is its own essential nature. The consciousness within begins to perceive the consciousness outside without any effort or obstacle. By this, one can experience God-consciousness.

IMPORTANT VERSES OF CHAPTER 10

20. I am the universal Self, O Gudakesha, seated   warriors I am Rama. Among the fishes I am the in the hearts of all beings, I am the beginning, the   shark; among streams I am the Ganga, middle and also the end of all beings.

22. Among the Vedas I am the Sama-veda, among gods I am Indra. Among organs of perception I am mind, and I am the consciousness in living beings.

25. Among great sages I am Bhrigu; among words I am the one syllable 'OM'; among sacrifices I am the sacrifice of silent repetition; and among immovable things I am the Himalayas.

31. Among purifiers I am the wind; among the warriors I am Rama. Among the fishes I am the shark, among the streams I am the Ganga.

34. I am all-devouring death and the prosperity of those who are prosperous. Among the feminine qualities I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, firmness and forgiveness.

Questions:

Q1. What techniques for meditation does Krishna describe?
Q2. Why does Krishna describe Himself as the 'all-devouring death'?