The Divine is within all beings.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः |अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ||१०-२०||
ahamātmā guḍākeśa sarvabhūtāśayasthitaḥ . ahamādiśca madhyaṃ ca bhūtānāmanta eva ca ||10-20||
Use this verse for heart-centered Krishna meditation.
Meaning
O Gudakesha, I am the Self seated in the hearts of all beings; I am their beginning, middle, and end.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Krishna is the inner Self and the whole arc of existence.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Krishna is not only outside as cosmic power; He is within all beings as the deepest Self. This verse is perfect for meditation, compassion, and identity healing.
Read the traditional commentary
Before listing particular glories, Krishna gives the foundational one: 'I am the Self (ātmā) seated in the hearts of all beings' (sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ). The supreme vibhūti is not any external object but the innermost reality of every living thing. God is closer than the closest — the very Self within.
He is also ādi, madhya, and anta — the beginning, middle, and end of all beings: their origin, their sustaining presence, and their final dissolution. Thus the Divine encircles existence entirely, from within and throughout. This verse anchors all the glories that follow: whatever splendid thing Krishna will name, the deepest place to find Him is not far away in the heavens but here, in the secret cave of one's own heart.
In daily life
Treat yourself and others as carrying divine presence.
Before judging someone, remember Krishna is seated in their heart too.
Try this today
Pause and remember the inner Self before one interaction.
Krishna dwells in the heart of all.Reflect
Do I see Krishna within myself and others?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘सर्वभूताशयस्थितः’ mean in this verse?
Krishna on presence, in other chapters
- Verse 7.8The Divine is the essence within ordinary things — taste it in water, see it in light, and the whole world becomes a remembrance.
- Verse 9.6We move within the Divine the way wind moves through open sky — held by it, yet never disturbing its boundless calm.
- Verse 13.18The light by which you know everything already shines in your own heart, waiting to be recognised.
- Verse 8.22The all-pervading Supreme is reached not by clever effort but by wholehearted, undivided devotion that holds nothing back.
Swipe left for 10.21 · Celestial light can awaken devotion.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 10.20
Who says Bhagavad Gita 10.20, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 10.20, in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga (Vibhuti Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.20 mean?
O Gudakesha, I am the Self seated in the hearts of all beings; I am their beginning, middle, and end. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 10.20 for daily life?
Treat yourself and others as carrying divine presence. Before judging someone, remember Krishna is seated in their heart too.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 10.20 mean?
अहम् आत्मा — I am the Self; गुडाकेश — O Arjuna (conqueror of sleep); सर्वभूताशयस्थितः — seated in the hearts of all beings; अहम् आदिः च — I am the beginning; मध्यं च — and the middle.
Where does verse 10.20 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 20 of 42 in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga. The next verse is 10.21.