Conclusion of chapter ten

Thus said Lord Shri Krishna of divine majesty, who is the very spring of the pleasant garden of knowledge, the great mysterious Presence who reveals himself in solitude to the ascetics. On this Arjuna said,

“Oh master, how wildly you tell me that we should drop all distinctions. As well might the sun at day-break ask the world to drive all darkness. Rash indeed would it be on my part to speak thus to you and call you wild and thoughtless. Let Thy holy name but once touch the ear or lips of Thy devotee and all egoistic sense of distinction drops off from his heart. By free gift of my luck, Thou—the Absolute Brahman incarnate—hast come to my hand. How then should any distinction remain now to blur my vision? Should any one dwelling inside of the Moon still be affected by heat? It is but wild talk coming from you Oh High One”.

At these words, Lord Krishna was overjoyed, and clasped Arjuna in a hearty embrace. The Lord then said,

“Be not angry at my words. The story of my manifold presences have I recounted in the guise of the distinctions of My divine manifestation; with words of distinction have I tested and seen that the undivided unity of My divine being has gone deep into your heart in truth.”

Thereupon Arjuna said,

“Oh God, it is for Thee to see; on my side, I feel now the whole universe is filled by Thy Divine presence”.

King Dhritarashtra remained unmoved by the account when Sanjaya told him, that Arjuna was rising to that vision of God’s universal Presence.

Sanjaya, sore of heart about this sight, exclaimed to himself;

“How amazing indeed for any one to cast aside such a (fruition) good luck?”

He further bethought himself that the King (Dhritarashtra) was probably a seeing soul. Now it turns out that he was blind no less inwardly than outwardly.

Leave him aside and turn to Arjuna, who is now yearning to enrich the full measure of his good fortune; for there sprang in his heart an ardent passion and he said, “Oh God, in my mind there has stirred up an intense longing for the vision,-directly with my (physical) eyes, in this very visible world,—of the (internal) realization in my heart that all is God.”—being Fortune’s favourite, he (Arjuna) asked thus fired with the ambition that his eyes should now dwell on a direct cosmic vision of the Omnipresent God. Oh hearers, he was, as it were, a branch of the Kalpataru (wish-fulfilling tree): his desires could not fail to bear fruit. Whatever words, therefore, he utters come true as Lord Krishna is ready to fulfil them. For, Lord Krishna is his Great Master, who at the bidding of Prahlada became himself the poison. Jnandev of Nivritti will next narrate in what words Partha made a request for the total vision of the Omnipresent God.