In Bhagavad Gita 10.34, Krishna says he is all-devouring death and the origin of what is to be; among feminine qualities he is fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मृत्युः सर्वहरश्चाहम्
उद्भवश्च भविष्यताम्
कीर्तिः श्रीर्वाक्च नारीणां
स्मृतिर्मेधा धृतिः क्षमा ॥ १०-३४ ॥
mṛtyuḥ sarvaharaścāham
udbhavaśca bhaviṣyatām
kīrtiḥ śrīrvākca nārīṇāṃ
smṛtirmedhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā
English transliteration mrityuh sarvaharashchaaham
udbhavashcha bhavishyataam
keertih shreervaakcha naareenaam
smritirmedhaa dhritih kshamaa ॥ 10.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am all-devouring death, and the origin of all that is yet to be. Among feminine qualities I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मृत्युः mṛtyuḥ | death |
| सर्वहरः sarvaharaḥ | all-devouring sarva (all) + haraḥ (taking away) |
| च ca | and |
| अहम् aham | I |
| उद्भवः udbhavaḥ | origin |
| च ca | and |
| भविष्यताम् bhaviṣyatām | of what is to be |
| कीर्तिः kīrtiḥ | fame |
| श्रीः śrīḥ | prosperity |
| वाक् vāk | speech |
| च ca | and |
| नारीणाम् nārīṇām | among feminine qualities |
| स्मृतिः smṛtiḥ | memory |
| मेधा medhā | intelligence |
| धृतिः dhṛtiḥ | steadfastness |
| क्षमा kṣamā | patience, forgiveness |
Word-wise Chanting
- mṛt–yuḥ sar–va–ha–raś–cā–ham– 8 syllables mrit-yuh sar-va-ha-rash-chaa-ham-
- ud–bha–vaś–ca bha–viṣ–ya–tām | 8 syllables ud-bha-vash-cha bha-vish-ya-taam
- kīr–tiḥ śrīr–vāk–ca nā–rī–ṇāṃ 8 syllables keer-tih shreer-vaak-cha naa-ree-naam
- smṛ–tir–me–dhā dhṛ–tiḥ kṣa–mā || 10-34 8 syllables smri-tir-me-dhaa dhri-tih ksha-maa
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 34
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
The Divine is both mṛtyu, death that takes everything away, and udbhava, the source of everything that will be. Among qualities traditionally seen as feminine, the Divine is kīrti, śrī, vāk, smṛti, medhā, dhṛti and kṣamā: good name, grace and prosperity, eloquence, memory, intelligence, steadiness and forbearance.
These seven qualities are often honoured as goddesses in Indian tradition. They describe the Divine as nurturing grace in human character.
In Practice
Choose one of these seven qualities, such as patience or steadiness, and practise it consciously today.
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.