In Bhagavad Gita 10.19, Krishna agrees to tell Arjuna his chief divine glories, for there is no end to their detail.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि
दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः
प्राधान्यतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ
नास्त्यन्तो विस्तरस्य मे ॥ १०-१९ ॥
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi
divyā hyātmavibhūtayaḥ
prādhānyataḥ kuruśreṣṭha
nāstyanto vistarasya me
English transliteration hanta te kathayishyaami
divyaa hyaatmavibhootayah
praadhaanyatah kurushreshtha
naastyanto vistarasya me ॥ 10.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Very well, I shall tell you of My divine glories, but only the chief ones, O best of the Kurus, for there is no end to their extent.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| हन्त hanta | very well |
| ते te | to you |
| कथयिष्यामि kathayiṣyāmi | I shall tell |
| दिव्याः divyāḥ | divine |
| हि hi | indeed |
| आत्मविभूतयः ātmavibhūtayaḥ | glories of My Self |
| प्राधान्यतः prādhānyataḥ | the chief ones |
| कुरुश्रेष्ठ kuruśreṣṭha | O best of the Kurus kuru (Kurus) + śreṣṭha (best) |
| न na | not |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| अन्तः antaḥ | end |
| विस्तरस्य vistarasya | of extent |
| मे me | My |
Word-wise Chanting
- han–ta te ka–tha–yiṣ–yā–mi 8 syllables han-ta te ka-tha-yish-yaa-mi
- div–yā hyāt–ma–vi–bhū–ta–yaḥ | 8 syllables div-yaa hyaat-ma-vi-bhoo-ta-yah
- prā–dhān–ya–taḥ ku–ruś–reṣ–ṭha 8 syllables praa-dhaan-ya-tah ku-rush-resh-tha
- nās–tyan–to vis–ta–ras–ya me || 10-19 8 syllables naas-tyan-to vis-ta-ras-ya me
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 19
Context
Krishna begins describing his glories (10.19–10.42).
Meaning
Krishna agrees warmly, hanta, but explains that he can name only the prādhānya, the chief manifestations. The Divine’s glories are infinite and cannot all be described. What follows is a sample pointing to the whole.
The list that follows is not meant to be exhaustive but illustrative. It trains us to recognise the Divine in whatever is excellent in each category.
In Practice
As you read the coming verses, ask in each case: what is the best of this kind in my own world?
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.