Wisdom, courage, and depth are divine qualities.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् |सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः सरसामस्मि सागरः ||१०-२४||
purodhasāṃ ca mukhyaṃ māṃ viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim . senānīnāmahaṃ skandaḥ sarasāmasmi sāgaraḥ ||10-24||
Use this verse before leadership decisions.
Meaning
Know Me as Brihaspati among priests, Skanda among commanders, and the ocean among bodies of water.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Krishna’s glory appears in guidance, command, and vastness.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Brihaspati symbolizes wisdom guidance, Skanda courageous leadership, and the ocean depth and vastness. The verse can guide people toward wise counsel, disciplined action, and expansive thinking.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna draws His examples now from human institutions and the world of waters. Among priests He is Brihaspati, the wise preceptor of the gods; among military commanders, Skanda (Kartikeya), the divine general; among bodies of water, the vast ocean (sāgara).
The selections again follow the principle of pre-eminence: the wisest counsellor, the supreme commander, the greatest of waters. But there is also a quiet teaching in the ocean: countless rivers pour into it endlessly, yet it remains full and unmoved — an image the Gita has used elsewhere for the steady sage.
To meditate on the ocean as a glory of God is to be drawn toward that same depth and serene fullness in oneself, undisturbed by the rivers of desire that flow in.
In daily life
Seek wise guidance before major action.
A founder can combine advisor wisdom, team leadership, and long-term depth.
Try this today
Ask one wise person for counsel before a major decision.
I seek wisdom, courage, and depth.Reflect
Where do I need guidance, courage, or depth?
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Quick check
What does ‘पार्थ’ mean in this verse?
Krishna on excellence, in other chapters
- Verse 3.7The highest path is to master your mind first, then act wholeheartedly in the world without clinging to the outcome.
- Verse 2.53When intelligence becomes immovably steady in samadhi, undistracted even by scriptural promises, true yoga is attained.
- Verse 6.19A disciplined mind grows as steady as a lamp flame in a windless place — unwavering, clear, and bright.
- Verse 8.8A wandering mind is steadied not by force but by patient daily practice that gradually trains it to rest in the Divine.
Swipe left for 10.25 · Japa is a powerful daily yajna.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 10.24
Who says Bhagavad Gita 10.24, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 10.24, in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga (Vibhuti Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.24 mean?
Know Me as Brihaspati among priests, Skanda among commanders, and the ocean among bodies of water. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 10.24 for daily life?
Seek wise guidance before major action. A founder can combine advisor wisdom, team leadership, and long-term depth.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 10.24 mean?
पुरोधसाम् — among priests; मुख्यम् — the chief; मां विद्धि — know Me to be; पार्थ — O Arjuna (son of Pritha); बृहस्पतिम् — Brihaspati.
Where does verse 10.24 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 24 of 42 in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga. The next verse is 10.25.