Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 10 · Vibhuti Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 10.42 अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन
श्लोक 10.42
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन ।
विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥
athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna |
viṣṭabhyāhamidaṃ kṛtsnamekāṃśena sthito jagat ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
परंतु हे अर्जुन! इतना सब विस्तार से जानने की तुम्हें क्या आवश्यकता है? मैं इस सारे जगत को अपने एक अंश मात्र से धारण करके स्थित हूँ।
Meaning in English
But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? I stand supporting this entire universe with just a single fraction of myself.
Bhagavad Gita 10.42 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अथवा | athavā | but rather |
| बहुना | bahunā | with much |
| एतेन | etena | of this |
| किम् | kim | what (use) |
| ज्ञातेन | jñātena | known |
| तव | tava | to you |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | O Arjuna |
| विष्टभ्य | viṣṭabhya | supporting |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| इदम् | idam | this |
| कृत्स्नम् | kṛtsnam | entire |
| एकांशेन | eka-aṃśena | with a single fraction |
| स्थितः | sthitaḥ | remain |
| जगत् | jagat | universe |
Explanation
But what need is there, Arjuna, for you to know all this in detail? I stand supporting this entire universe with a single fraction of myself. With this, Krishna sums up the chapter: the whole cosmos, with all its glories, is only a small portion of the Divine, who remains far greater than everything he sustains.
Commentators often connect this verse with the Purusha Sukta of the Rigveda, which says all beings are one quarter of the cosmic Person, while three quarters remain immortal beyond. Shankara reads eka-aṃśa as one part of the Lord's being, enough to pervade and hold up the universe. Ramanuja takes it as a tiny portion of his power sustaining all, while his true glory lies beyond. The verse shifts from listing particular manifestations to a vision of the whole, and leads straight into Arjuna's request in Chapter 11 to see that universal form.
भावार्थ
परन्तु हे अर्जुन, इतना विस्तार से जानने की तुम्हें क्या आवश्यकता है? मैं इस सम्पूर्ण जगत को अपने एक अंश मात्र से धारण करके स्थित हूँ। सारा ब्रह्माण्ड भगवान के केवल एक छोटे से अंश में समाया हुआ है।
Living it today
When the world feels overwhelming, remember it is held within something vaster. Small worries look different against that background.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 10.42?
But what need is there, Arjuna, for you to know all this in detail? I stand supporting this entire universe with a single fraction of myself. With this, Krishna sums up the chapter: the whole cosmos, with all its glories, is only a small portion of the Divine, who remains far greater than everything he sustains.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 10.42?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 10 (Vibhuti Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 10.42 in daily life?
When the world feels overwhelming, remember it is held within something vaster. Small worries look different against that background.
Reflected on verse 10.42?
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