In Bhagavad Gita 10.26, Krishna says that among all trees he is the ashvattha, among divine sages Narada, among gandharvas Chitraratha, and among perfected beings the sage Kapila.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां
देवर्षीणां च नारदः
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः
सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥ १०-२६ ॥
aśvatthaḥ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṃ
devarṣīṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ
gandharvāṇāṃ citrarathaḥ
siddhānāṃ kapilo muniḥ
English transliteration ashvatthah sarvavrikshaanaam
devarsheenaam cha naaradah
gandharvaanaam chitrarathah
siddhaanaam kapilo munih ॥ 10.26 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among all trees I am the ashvattha, the sacred fig; among divine sages, Narada; among the gandharvas, Chitraratha; and among the perfected ones, the sage Kapila.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अश्वत्थः aśvatthaḥ | the aśvattha, sacred fig |
| सर्ववृक्षाणाम् sarvavṛkṣāṇām | among all trees sarva (all) + vṛkṣāṇām (trees) |
| देवर्षीणाम् devarṣīṇām | among divine sages |
| च ca | and |
| नारदः nāradaḥ | Nārada |
| गन्धर्वाणाम् gandharvāṇām | among the gandharvas, celestial musicians |
| चित्ररथः citrarathaḥ | Citraratha |
| सिद्धानाम् siddhānām | among the perfected ones |
| कपिलः kapilaḥ | Kapila |
| मुनिः muniḥ | the sage |
Word-wise Chanting
- aś–vat–thaḥ sar–va–vṛ–kṣā–ṇāṃ 8 syllables ash-vat-thah sar-va-vri-kshaa-naam
- de–var–ṣī–ṇāṃ ca nā–ra–daḥ | 8 syllables de-var-shee-naam cha naa-ra-dah
- gan–dhar–vā–ṇāṃ cit–ra–ra–thaḥ 8 syllables gan-dhar-vaa-naam chit-ra-ra-thah
- sid–dhā–nāṃ ka–pi–lo mu–niḥ || 10-26 8 syllables sid-dhaa-naam ka-pi-lo mu-nih
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 26
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
The aśvattha, the sacred fig, is honoured above all trees; it reappears in Chapter 15 as the image of the world-tree. Nārada is the greatest of divine sages, Citraratha the chief of the celestial musicians, and Kapila, the founder of Sāṅkhya philosophy, the foremost of perfected beings.
The Divine is present in nature, devotion, music and philosophy. Each field has its peaks, and in each the Divine can be recognised.
In Practice
Notice a tree today and remember that the Divine is present in the life and growth of nature.
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.