In Bhagavad Gita 10.24, Krishna says that among priests he is Brihaspati, the chief; among generals Skanda; and among bodies of water the ocean.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां
विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम्
सेनानीनामहं स्कन्दः
सरसामस्मि सागरः ॥ १०-२४ ॥
purodhasāṃ ca mukhyaṃ māṃ
viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim
senānīnāmahaṃ skandaḥ
sarasāmasmi sāgaraḥ
English transliteration purodhasaam cha mukhyam maam
viddhi paartha brihaspatim
senaaneenaamaham skandah
sarasaamasmi saagarah ॥ 10.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among priests, O Partha, know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati. Among generals I am Skanda, and among bodies of water I am the ocean.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पुरोधसाम् purodhasām | among priests |
| च ca | and |
| मुख्यम् mukhyam | the chief |
| माम् mām | Me |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| बृहस्पतिम् bṛhaspatim | Bṛhaspati |
| सेनानीनाम् senānīnām | among generals |
| अहम् aham | I |
| स्कन्दः skandaḥ | Skanda |
| सरसाम् sarasām | among bodies of water |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| सागरः sāgaraḥ | the ocean |
Word-wise Chanting
- pu–ro–dha–sāṃ ca mukh–yaṃ māṃ 8 syllables pu-ro-dha-saam cha mukh-yam maam
- vid–dhi pār–tha bṛ–has–pa–tim | 8 syllables vid-dhi paar-tha bri-has-pa-tim
- se–nā–nī–nā–ma–haṃ skan–daḥ 8 syllables se-naa-nee-naa-ma-ham skan-dah
- sa–ra–sā–mas–mi sā–ga–raḥ || 10-24 8 syllables sa-ra-saa-mas-mi saa-ga-rah
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 24
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
Bṛhaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods, is chief among priests; Skanda, the divine commander, is first among generals; and the vast ocean is the greatest of all waters. The Divine is seen in wisdom, leadership and boundlessness.
The ocean is an especially rich image: it receives all rivers without overflowing (2.70) and is infinitely deep. It suggests the Divine’s capacity to contain everything.
In Practice
Imagine the ocean receiving all rivers calmly. Let your mind be like that today as experiences flow in.
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.