Chapter 10, Verse 42
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन | विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ||१०-४२||
athavā bahunaitena kiṃ jñātena tavārjuna . viṣṭabhyāhamidaṃ kṛtsnamekāṃśena sthito jagat ||10-42||
Meaning
10.42 But, of what avail to thee is the knowledge of all these details, O Arjuna? I exist, supporting this whole world by one part of Myself.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
The chapter closes with one of the most majestic statements in all scripture. Almost gently, Krishna sets aside the long catalogue: 'What need have you of all these details, Arjuna?' Then He gives the final, all-encompassing truth: 'I remain, supporting (viṣṭabhya) this entire universe with a single fragment (ekāṃśena) of Myself.'
The whole cosmos — with its countless suns, sages, mountains, and creatures — rests upon just one part of the Divine. The Infinite is not exhausted by creation; the visible universe is but a corner of His being. This is the soul-stilling vision that crowns Vibhuti-Yoga: God is at once intimately present in every glory and yet utterly transcends them all. To rest in this is to feel both wonder at His nearness and peace in His boundlessness. The seeker need not grasp every detail — only this: He upholds all, and a single spark of Him is enough.
💡 Key Takeaway
The entire universe rests on but a single fragment of the Divine — find peace in a presence so near yet so boundless.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः | यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ||१०-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . bhūya eva mahābāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ . yatte.ahaṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hitakāmyayā ||10-1||
10.1 The Blessed Lord said Again, O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen to my supreme word which I will declare to thee who who art beloved, for thy welfare.
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः | अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ||१०-२||
na me viduḥ suragaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ . ahamādirhi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||10-2||
10.2 Neither the hosts of the gods nor the great sages know My origin; for in every way I am the source of all the gods and the great sages.
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः | सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ||१०-४||
buddhirjñānamasammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ . sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavo.abhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayameva ca ||10-4||
10.4 Intellect, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, happiness, pain, existence or birth, non-existence or death, fear and also fearlessness.