In Bhagavad Gita 10.40, Krishna says there is no end to his divine glories; what he has described is only a brief indication of their extent.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां
विभूतीनां परन्तप
एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो
विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ॥ १०-४० ॥
nānto’sti mama divyānāṃ
vibhūtīnāṃ parantapa
eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto
vibhūtervistaro mayā
English transliteration naanto’sti mama divyaanaam
vibhooteenaam parantapa
esha tooddeshatah prokto
vibhootervistaro mayaa ॥ 10.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There is no end to My divine glories, O scorcher of foes. What I have declared is only a brief indication of the extent of My glory.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| अन्तः antaḥ | end |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| मम mama | My |
| दिव्यानाम् divyānām | divine |
| विभूतीनाम् vibhūtīnām | of glories |
| परन्तप parantapa | O scorcher of foes |
| एषः eṣaḥ | this |
| तु tu | but |
| उद्देशतः uddeśataḥ | briefly, by way of indication |
| प्रोक्तः proktaḥ | declared |
| विभूतेः vibhūteḥ | of glory |
| विस्तरः vistaraḥ | extent |
| मया mayā | by Me |
Word-wise Chanting
- nān–to–‘sti ma–ma div–yā–nāṃ 8 syllables naan-to-‘sti ma-ma div-yaa-naam
- vi–bhū–tī–nāṃ pa–ran–ta–pa | 8 syllables vi-bhoo-tee-naam pa-ran-ta-pa
- e–ṣa tūd–de–śa–taḥ prok–to 8 syllables e-sha tood-de-sha-tah prok-to
- vi–bhū–ter–vis–ta–ro ma–yā || 10-40 8 syllables vi-bhoo-ter-vis-ta-ro ma-yaa
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 40
Context
Krishna concludes the list (10.39–10.42).
Meaning
The Divine’s vibhūtis are infinite. What Krishna has given is only uddeśataḥ, a brief indication, a few examples to point the way. The real extent of the Divine’s glory is beyond all lists.
The examples train our eyes. Once we learn to see the Divine in the best of things, we can begin to see it everywhere.
In Practice
Add one example of your own to Krishna’s list today: where do you see the Divine’s glory most clearly?
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.