In Bhagavad Gita 10.16, Arjuna asks Krishna to describe fully his divine glories, by which he pervades and abides in all these worlds.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण
दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः
याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकान्
इमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥ १०-१६ ॥
vaktumarhasyaśeṣeṇa
divyā hyātmavibhūtayaḥ
yābhirvibhūtibhirlokān
imāṃstvaṃ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi
English transliteration vaktumarhasyasheshena
divyaa hyaatmavibhootayah
yaabhirvibhootibhirlokaan
imaamstvam vyaapya tishthasi ॥ 10.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Please describe fully Your divine glories, the manifestations of Your Self, by which You pervade these worlds and abide in them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वक्तुम् vaktum | to describe |
| अर्हसि arhasi | please |
| अशेषेण aśeṣeṇa | fully |
| दिव्याः divyāḥ | divine |
| हि hi | indeed |
| आत्मविभूतयः ātmavibhūtayaḥ | glories of Your Self ātma (Self) + vibhūtayaḥ (glories) |
| याभिः yābhiḥ | by which |
| विभूतिभिः vibhūtibhiḥ | glories |
| लोकान् lokān | worlds |
| इमान् imān | these |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| व्याप्य vyāpya | pervading |
| तिष्ठसि tiṣṭhasi | abide |
Word-wise Chanting
- vak–tu–mar–has–ya–śe–ṣe–ṇa 8 syllables vak-tu-mar-has-ya-she-she-na
- div–yā hyāt–ma–vi–bhū–ta–yaḥ | 8 syllables div-yaa hyaat-ma-vi-bhoo-ta-yah
- yā–bhir–vi–bhū–ti–bhir–lo–kān– 8 syllables yaa-bhir-vi-bhoo-ti-bhir-lo-kaan-
- i–māṃs–tvaṃ vyāp–ya tiṣ–ṭha–si || 10-16 8 syllables i-maams-tvam vyaap-ya tish-tha-si
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 16
Context
Arjuna asks Krishna to describe his manifestations (10.16–10.18).
Meaning
Having heard that Krishna is the source of all, Arjuna wants to know how this shows in the world. He asks for the vibhūtis, the glorious manifestations through which the Divine pervades and abides in all worlds.
Arjuna wants concrete ways to recognise the Divine in daily life. This is a practical request: show me where to look.
In Practice
Ask yourself where in your daily life you might recognise the Divine’s presence. Keep the question open as you read on.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.