Vibhuti Vistara Yoga

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Supreme Lord said: Hear again, O mighty-armed one, My supreme word, which I shall speak to you, My beloved friend, for your benefit and welfare.

न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः |

Neither the hosts of demigods nor the great sages know My origin, for I am the source of all the demigods and the great sages in every respect.

यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम् |

One who knows Me as unborn, beginningless, and the Supreme Lord of the worlds—he, undeluded among mortals, is liberated from all sins.

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः |

Intellect, wisdom, freedom from doubt, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, and fearlessness...

अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः |

Non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy—these diverse qualities of living beings arise from Me alone.

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा |

The seven great sages of old, and also the four Manus, were born from My mind, and from them have emerged all the living beings in this world.

एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः |

One who knows in truth this divine glory and yogic power of Mine becomes united with Me in unwavering yoga. Of this there is no doubt.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते |

I am the source of all; from Me everything emanates. Understanding this, the wise worship Me with deep devotion and emotion.

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् |

With their minds fixed on Me and their lives surrendered to Me, enlightening one another and always speaking of Me, they are contented and rejoiced.

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् |

To those who are constantly united with Me and worship Me with love, I bestow that yoga of wisdom (Buddhi-yoga) by which they come to Me.

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः |

Out of pure compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of wisdom.

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Abode, the Supreme Purifier. You are the Eternal, Divine Person, the Primeval Lord, the Unborn and All-Pervading.

आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा |

All the great sages have declared this of You, including the celestial sage Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa; and now You Yourself declare it to me.

सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव |

I accept all this that You have told me as the absolute truth, O Keshava. Indeed, O Lord, neither the demigods nor the demons comprehend Your manifestation.

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम |

Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own Self, O Supreme Person, Creator of beings, Lord of beings, God of gods, Ruler of the universe!

वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः |

Please describe to me in detail Your divine self-manifestations, by which You pervade and abide in all these worlds.

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् |

How may I know You, O supreme Yogi, by constant meditation? In what particular forms, O Lord, are You to be meditated upon by me?

विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन |

Describe to me in detail again, O Janardana, Your yogic power and glory; for I am never sated by hearing Your nectar-like words.

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Supreme Lord said: Yes, I shall declare to you My divine self-manifestations, but only the most prominent ones, O best of the Kurus, for there is no end to My detailed expansion.

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः |

I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all living beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.

आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् |

Among the Adityas I am Vishnu; among luminous bodies I am the radiant Sun; among the Maruts I am Marichi; and among the stars I am the Moon.

वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः |

Among the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; among the demigods I am Indra; among the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am consciousness.

रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् |

Among the Rudras I am Shankara; among the Yakshas and Rakshasas I am Kubera (the Lord of wealth); among the Vasus I am Agni (Fire); and among mountains I am Meru.

पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् |

Know Me, O Partha, to be Brihaspati, the chief of priests. Among generals I am Skanda (Kartikeya); and among reservoirs of water I am the Ocean.

महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् |

Among the great sages I am Bhrigu; among utterances I am the single syllable OM; among sacrifices I am the sacrifice of silent chanting (Japa-yajna); and among immovable things I am the Himalayas.

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः |

Among all trees I am the Ashvattha (holy fig tree); among celestial sages I am Narada; among Gandharvas (celestial musicians) I am Chitraratha; and among perfected souls I am the sage Kapila.

उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् |

Among horses, know Me to be Uchchaihshravas, born of nectar; among lordly elephants, Airavata; and among human beings, the King.

आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक् |

Among weapons I am the Thunderbolt (Vajra); among cows I am Kamadhuk (the wish-fulfilling cow); among progenitors I am Kandarpa (the god of love); and among serpents I am Vasuki.

अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम् |

Among the multi-headed Nagas I am Ananta (Shesha); among aquatic creatures I am Varuna; among the departed ancestors I am Aryaman; and among administrators of law I am Yama (the lord of death).

प्रह्लादश्चास्मि दैत्यानां कालः कलयतामहम् |

Among the Daityas (demons) I am Prahlada; among calculators I am Time; among wild beasts I am the Lion; and among birds I am Garuda (the vehicle of Vishnu).

पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् |

Among purifiers I am the wind; among weapon-wielders I am Rama. Among fish I am the shark, and among flowing rivers I am the Ganges.

सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन |

Of all creations, O Arjuna, I am the beginning, the end, and also the middle. Among sciences I am the science of the Self (spiritual science); among speakers I am the logical debate.

अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च |

Among letters I am the letter 'A', and among compound words I am the dual compound (Dvandva). I am indeed imperishable Time, and I am the supporter of all, facing in all directions.

मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भवश्च भविष्यताम् |

I am all-devouring Death, and I am the generator of all future things. Among women I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness.

बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् |

Among the Sama hymns I am the Brihat-sama; among meters I am the Gayatri. Among months I am Margashirsha; and among seasons I am the flowery Spring.

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् |

I am the gambling of the deceitful; I am the splendor of the splendid. I am victory, I am resolve, and I am the goodness of the good.

वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः |

Among the descendants of Vrishni I am Vasudeva (Krishna); among the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna). Among the sages I am Vyasa; and among the wise poets I am Ushanas.

दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् |

I am the power of punishment among those who discipline; I am the statesmanship of those who seek victory. I am the silence of secrets, and I am the wisdom of the wise.

यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन |

And whatever is the generating seed of all beings, O Arjuna, that I am. There is no being, moving or non-moving, that can exist without Me.

नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परन्तप |

O conqueror of foes, there is no end to My divine glories. What I have declared to you is but a brief summary of My infinite manifestations.

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा |

Whatever glorious, beautiful, or mighty being exists, know that to be manifested from a fraction of My splendor.

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन |

But what is the need of all this detailed knowledge, O Arjuna? I support this entire universe by a single fraction of My energy.