Vibhūti Yog
The Yoga of Divine Manifestations
Chapter Theme
In this chapter Krishna describes his vibhūti—his divine opulences and special powers. He explains that everything excellent in the world comes from him and reflects a part of his being.
Krishna lists many examples: natural forces, leaders, saints, arts, and virtues. These show how the divine appears in many forms and levels of life. The list helps us see God in ordinary things, not just in temples or books.
The chapter teaches that true knowledge of God comes from recognizing him as the source of all excellence. Those who worship with faith and see the world’s beauties as signs of the divine move closer to him.
Krishna also says that sincere devotees are shown his deeper nature. Devotion mixed with knowledge leads to inner clarity, faith, and peace. The chapter encourages direct, attentive devotion rather than only intellectual study.
Key Teachings
- God is the source of all greatness; every excellence in the world is a glimpse of the divine.
- By noticing divine qualities in people, nature, and art, one can come to know God.
- Devotion, combined with knowledge, opens the heart to experience the divine personally.
- The wise see unity behind many forms; this vision removes pride and strengthens humility.
Life Application
- Practice noticing and thanking the divine in simple things: a kind person, a sunset, or a creative skill.
- Use these daily recognitions to grow humility and devotion rather than ego or pride.
- Spend short, regular times focusing on one divine quality (like wisdom, courage, or beauty) to deepen your connection.
Reflection Question
Which daily experience or quality most helps me feel connected to something greater?
Verses in this Chapter
The Blessed Lord said, Again, O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen to my supreme word which I will declare to you, who are beloved, for your welfare.
Neither the hosts of the gods nor the great sages know My origin; for I am the source of all the gods and the great sages in every way.
He who knows Me as unborn and beginningless, as the great Lord of the worlds, he among mortals is undeluded and is liberated from all sins.
Intellect, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, happiness, pain, existence or birth, non-existence or death, fear, and also fearlessness. Non-injury, equanimity, contentment, austerity, beneficence, fame, and ill-fame—these different qualities of beings arise from Me alone.
The seven great sages, the ancient four, and the Manus, possessing powers like Mine (due to their minds being fixed on Me), were born from My mind; from them, these creatures have been born in this world.
He who truly knows these manifold manifestations of My Being and this Yoga-power of Mine, becomes established in unshakable Yoga; there is no doubt about it.
I am the source of all; from me everything evolves; Understanding this, the wise, endowed with meditation, worship me.
With their minds and lives wholly absorbed in Me, they enlighten each other and ever speak of Me, being satisfied and delighted.
To those who are ever steadfast, worshipping me with love, I give the yoga of discrimination, by which they come to me.
Out of mere compassion for them, I, dwelling within their selves, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of knowledge.
Arjuna said, "You are the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier, eternal, divine Person, the primeval God, unborn, and omnipresent." All the sages have thus declared Thee, as also the divine sage Narada; so also Asita, Devala, and Vyasa; and now Thou Thyself dost say so to me.
I believe all that You have said to me to be true, O Krishna; indeed, O blessed Lord! Neither the gods nor the demons know Your manifestation (origin).
Verily, Thou Thyself knowest Thyself by Thyself, O Supreme Person, O source and Lord of all beings, O God of gods, O ruler of the world!
You should indeed tell, without reserve, of your divine glories by which you exist, pervading all these worlds. (No one else can do so.) How shall I, ever meditating, know you, O Yogin? In what aspects or things, O blessed Lord, should I think of you?
Tell me again in detail, O Krishna, of your yogic power and glory; for I am not satiated with what I have heard of your life-giving and nectar-like speech.
The Blessed Lord said, "Very well! Now I will declare to you My divine glories in their prominence, O Arjuna; there is no end to their detailed description."
I am the Self, O Gudakesa, seated in the hearts of all beings; I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
Among the twelve Adityas, I am Vishnu; among luminaries, the radiant sun; among the seven or forty-nine Maruts, I am Marichi; among stars, I am the moon.
Among the Vedas, I am the Sama-Veda; among the gods, I am Vasava; among the senses, I am the mind; and among living beings, I am intelligence.
And among the Rudras, I am Sankara; among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, the Lord of Wealth (Kubera); among the Vasus, I am Pavaka (Fire); and among the seven mountains, I am Meru.
And, among the household priests of kings, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati; among the army generals, I am Skanda; among lakes, I am the ocean.
Among the great sages, I am Bhrigu; among words, I am the one syllable (Om); among sacrifices, I am the sacrifice of silent repetition; among the immovable things, I am the Himalayas.
Among all the trees, I am the Peepul; among the divine sages, I am Narada; among the Gandharvas, I am Chitraratha; among the perfected, I am the sage Kapila.
Know Me as Ucchaisravas, born of nectar, among horses; Airavata among lordly elephants; and the king among men.
Among weapons, I am the thunderbolt; among cows, I am the wish-fulfilling cow called Kamadhenu; I am the progenitor, the god of love; among serpents, I am Vasuki.
I am Ananta among the Nagas; I am Varuna among water-deities; Aryaman among the Manes; I am Yama among the governors.
And I am Prahlada among the demons, I am Time among reckoners, I am the lion among beasts, and Vainateya (Garuda) among birds.
Among the 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.
Among creations I am the beginning, the middle, and the end, O Arjuna; among the sciences, I am the science of the Self; and I am the logic among controversialists.
Among the letters of the alphabet, I am the letter 'A' and the dual among compounds. I am verily the inexhaustible and everlasting time; I am the dispenser of the fruits of actions, having faces in all directions.
And I am the all-devouring Death, and the source of prosperity for those who are to be prosperous; among the feminine qualities, I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, firmness, and forgiveness.
Among the hymns, I am the Brihatsaman; among meters, I am Gayatri; among months, I am Margasirsha; among seasons, I am the flowery season.
I am the gambling of the deceitful; I am the splendor of the splendid; I am victory; I am the resolve of the resolute; I am the goodness of the good.
Among the Vrishnis, I am Vaasudeva; among the Pandavas, I am Arjuna; among the sages, I am Vyasa; among the poets, I am Usanas, the poet.
Of those who punish, I am the scepter; among those who seek victory, I am statesmanship; and among secrets, I am silence; I am knowledge among knowers.
And whatever is the seed of all beings, that too am I, O Arjuna; there is no being, be it moving or unmoving, that can exist without Me.
There is no end to My divine glories, O Arjuna, but this is a brief statement by Me of the particulars of My divine glory.
Whatever being there is glorious, prosperous, or powerful, know that to be a manifestation of a part of My splendor.
But, of what avail is the knowledge of all these details to you, O Arjuna? I exist, supporting this whole world with one part of Myself.