Vibhūti Yoga
The Yoga of Divine Manifestations
The Supreme Lord said: O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen again to My supreme word, which I shall speak to you who are dear to Me, for your benefit.
Neither the hosts of gods nor the great sages know My origin, for I am the source of all the gods and great sages in every way.
One who knows Me as unborn, without beginning, and the supreme Lord of all worlds - that person, undeluded among mortals, is freed from all sins.
Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness, distress, birth, death, fear, and fearlessness -
Non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - all these diverse states of beings arise from Me alone.
The seven great sages, the four ancient Manus, and all beings in the world are born from My mind and partake of My nature.
One who knows in truth this glory and mystic power of Mine is united with Me through unshakeable yoga - of this there is no doubt.
I am the source of all creation. Everything proceeds from Me. Knowing this, the wise worship Me with all their heart.
With their minds fixed on Me, their lives surrendered to Me, enlightening one another and always speaking of Me, they derive satisfaction and delight.
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the yoga of understanding by which they come to Me.
Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling within their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge.
Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier, the eternal divine Person, the original God, unborn and all-pervading.
All the sages proclaim this of You, as does the divine sage Narada, as well as Asita, Devala, and Vyasa. And now You Yourself declare it to me.
O Keshava, I accept as truth all that You tell me. Neither the gods nor the demons, O Lord, can understand Your personality.
Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own internal potency, O Supreme Person, O origin of all beings, O Lord of all beings, O God of gods, O Lord of the universe.
Please describe in full Your divine glories, by which You pervade and remain in all these worlds.
O Supreme Mystic, how shall I know You, constantly meditating on You? In what various forms are You to be contemplated by me, O Lord?
O Janardana, tell me again in detail of Your mystic power and glories, for I am never satiated hearing Your nectarean words.
The Supreme Lord said: Yes, I shall describe to you My divine glories, but only the principal ones, O best of the Kurus, for there is no end to My extent.
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
Of the Adityas I am Vishnu; of luminaries I am the radiant sun; of the Maruts I am Marichi; and among the stars I am the moon.
Of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; of the gods I am Indra; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am consciousness.
Of the Rudras I am Shankara (Shiva); of the Yakshas and Rakshasas I am Kubera; of the Vasus I am fire; and of mountains I am Meru.
Of priests, O Partha, know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati. Of military commanders I am Skanda; and of bodies of water I am the ocean.
Of the great sages I am Bhrigu; of utterances I am the single syllable Om; of sacrifices I am the sacrifice of chanting; and of immovable things I am the Himalayas.
Among trees I am the ashvattha (sacred fig tree); among divine sages I am Narada; among the Gandharvas I am Chitraratha; and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.
Among horses know Me to be Ucchaihshravas, born of the churning of nectar; among elephants I am Airavata; and among men I am the king.
Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am Kamadhenu (the wish-fulfilling cow); of progenitors I am Kandarpa (the god of love); and among serpents I am Vasuki.
Among the Nagas I am Ananta; among aquatic beings I am Varuna; among the ancestors I am Aryama; and among controllers I am Yama.
Among the Daityas I am Prahlada; among measurers I am time; among beasts I am the lion; and among birds I am Garuda.
Among purifiers I am the wind; among warriors I am Rama; among fishes I am the shark; and among rivers I am the Ganges.
Of creations I am the beginning, the middle, and the end, O Arjuna. Among sciences I am the science of the Self (adhyatma-vidya); and among debaters I am the logical conclusion (vada).
Among letters I am the letter A; among compound words I am the dual compound; I am inexhaustible time; and I am the all-pervading creator facing everywhere.
I am all-devouring death, and I am the origin of things yet to be. Among feminine qualities I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and patience.
Among the Sama Veda hymns I am the Brhat-sama; among poetic meters I am Gayatri; among months I am Margashirsha; and among seasons I am flower-bearing spring.
Among deceitful practices I am gambling; I am the splendor of the splendid; I am victory; I am determination; and I am the goodness of the good.
Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva; among the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna); among sages I am Vyasa; and among poets I am the poet Ushana.
Among punishers I am the rod of chastisement; among those seeking victory I am statesmanship; among secrets I am silence; and among the wise I am wisdom.
Whatever is the seed of all beings, that I am, O Arjuna. There is no being, moving or unmoving, that can exist without Me.
There is no end to My divine manifestations, O Parantapa. What I have declared is only an indication of the extent of My infinite glories.
Whatever being is glorious, prosperous, or powerful, know that to spring from but a fraction of My splendor.
But what need is there, O Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? I support this entire universe with a single fragment of Myself, and I remain.