104 - Manifestations of the Divine | Swami Tattwamayananda - a podcast by Vedanta Society, San Francisco

Title: Manifestations of the Divine

10th chapter: 20th verse, 41st verse, verses 25-38

The summary of the 10th chapter is that everything is an expression of the divine. This divinity is immanent within us. We can manifest this divinity by seeing its presence in anything that is sublime, supreme, beautiful and creative.

The central thesis of the 10th chapter is in the 20th verse and 41st verse. It is important to properly understand both these verses to make sense of verse 21 onwards, where Lord Krishna describes his manifestations.

In the 20th verse, Lord Krishna says: “O Arjuna, I am present in the heart of all beings as the indweller– residing there I regulate and function everything. I am the beginning; I am the middle; and I am the end of all beings.”

In the 41st verse, Lord Krishna says: “Wherever you find some greatness, prosperity, power or excellence – know that to be a part of My splendor.” Wherever we find a unique manifestation that is sublime and beautiful, it is an expression of the divine reality.

To make this clearer, from the 25th to 38th verse, Lord Krishna describes his physical manifestations.

In the 25th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among the sounds, I am Omkara.” Omkara is the essence of all human sound and speech systems.

In the 26th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among sacred trees, I am Ashvattha.” Ashvattha is considered the most auspicious among trees.

In the 29th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among the regulators, I am Yama.” Yama is the great equalizer – real equality is possible only in the palace of the Lord of death. In the 34th verse, Lord Krishna says: “I am the all-consuming death.”

Death is inescapable. However, it can be transcended when we realize our deathless dimension, as the Atman. Atman is indestructible – it was never born, and it never dies. Immortality cannot be achieved at physical level.

Yama explains the mystery of death to Nachiketa in the Kathopanishad. Nachiketa asks Yama for three boons: (1) Let my father not scold me when I return (2) Teach me rituals to get to heaven and (3) Teach me the reality beyond death. Yama then teaches Nachiketa how to transcend death. He teaches him how to transcend our physical identity and realize our true nature as the Atman, which is deathless, and which is present everywhere and in everything.

In the 35th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among vedic mantras, I am Brihat sama.” Sama is mantra turned into its musical form. He says: “Among metres, I am Gayatri.”

In the 36th verse, Lord Krishna says: “I am gambling in those who deceive.” What Lord Krishna means is that if someone is possessed with great qualities but is wicked, he implants something in that person that becomes a cause of his downfall. For example, Ravana’s obsession with sensuality was the cause of his downfall.

Everything in this world – good, bad, indifference – all come from the same source, the divine reality. Just as electricity manifests in different ways depending on the gadget it powers, similarly, everything in this world is a different manifestation of the same divine reality.

In the 37th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among the Pandavas, I am Arjuna.” Lord Krishna chose Arjuna as his student, over Yudhishthira and other Pandavas, because Arjuna was a man of action, who was eager to learn, and who would put into practice what he learnt.

Spiritual life should not be lived in the world of ideas. We need to put these ideas into action. We can start our spiritual life by doing unselfish, noble deeds. Such physical actions generate spiritual energy and increase the storehouse of our healthy samskaras.

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