Shrimad Bhagavad-gita

by Narayana Gosvami | 2013 | 327,105 words

The Bhagavad-gita Verse 10.42, English translation, including the Vaishnava commentaries Sarartha-varsini-tika, Prakashika-vritti and Rasika-ranjana (excerpts). This is verse Verse 10.42 from the chapter 10 called “Vibhuti-yoga (appreciating the opulences of the Supreme Lord)”

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 10.42:

अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन ।
विष्टभ्याहम् इदं कृत्स्नम् एकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥ ४२ ॥

athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna |
viṣṭabhyāham idaṃ kṛtsnam ekāṃśena sthito jagat
|| 42 ||

athavā–however; bahunā–by multi-faceted description; etena–by this; kim–of what use?; jñātena tava–can be understood by you; ārjuna–O Arjuna; viṣṭabhya–maintain and pervade; aham–I; idam–this; kṛtsnam–whole; eka-aṃśena–by My single plenary portion, the Supersoul; sthitaḥ–situated; jagat–the cosmic manifestation.

Of what use to you, Arjuna, is all this detailed knowledge? Just understand this: merely by My single plenary portion do I pervade and sustain this entire universe.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

“What need is there for you to know all this (bahunā) in separate detail? You should understand the essence. I, by My partial aspect as the indwelling witness of material nature, support the entire universe. As the substratum, I support it. As the presiding authority, I preside over it, and as the controller I control it. Being all-pervasive, I pervade it, and as the creator, I am its cause.”

When one understands, with the pure intelligence bestowed by Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, that He Himself supports the entire universe, it is one’s duty to render service to Him exclusively and relish His mādhurya (sweetness). This is stated in the Tenth Chapter.

Thus ends the bhāvānuvāda of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s
Sārārtha-varṣiṇī-tīkā (the commentary that gives pleasure
to the devotees and is accepted by all saintly persons)
on the Tenth Chapter of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “In the previous chapter, pure kṛṣṇa-bhakti was instructed. A person deliberating on that may have a doubt and think that perhaps service to Kṛṣṇa can be rendered by worshipping the demigods. To remove this doubt, Kṛṣṇa says in this chapter that demigods such as Brahmā and Rudra are nothing but His opulences. ‘I am the cause of everything. I am without birth, beginningless and the Supreme Controller. When one understands vibhūti-tattva, the truths regarding My opulences, by proper deliberation, there remains no other impediment to exclusive devotion. I pervade this entire universe by My partial aspect as Paramātmā and have manifested all these opulences. After understanding My vibhūti-tattva, devotees attain knowledge of bhagavat-tattva, the Truth of Śrī Bhagavān, and with pure devotion, they engage in bhajana of My form as Śrī Kṛṣṇa.’

In the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh verses of this chapter, pure devotion and its result have been described. Only bhajana of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the origin of all these opulences, can lead to prema, which is the eternal religion of the living entity. This is the essence of this chapter.”

Thus ends the Sārārtha-varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja,
on the Tenth Chapter of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: