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Chapter 10 · The Opulence of the Absolute · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 10 · The Opulence of the Absolute
10.1110.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 10.12

Arjuna accepts and asks to hear more

Īśvara · God

अर्जुन उवाच

परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् ।

पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥ १२ ॥

आहुस्त्वामृषय: सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा ।

असितो देवलो व्यास: स्वयं चैव ब्रवीषि मे ॥ १३ ॥

arjuna uvāca

paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma

pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān

puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam

ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum

āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarve

devarṣir nāradas tathā

asito devalo vyāsaḥ

svayaṁ caiva bravīṣi me

Translation

Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Kṛṣṇa Is the Supreme Truth

  1. 1

    Arjuna declares that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, and the eternal, unborn person.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is different from the individual soul. Everyone depends on Him, and only devotional service enables us to understand Him.

  3. 3

    Practice remembering Kṛṣṇa as a form of devotional service, and accept Arjuna’s statements to understand Bhagavad-gītā.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 10.12–13

Arjuna accepts Krishna as The Supreme Personality of Godhead and great sages confirm it

Further reading

Arjuna Accepts Krishna’s Position And Requests To Hear More

Of his opulences

Arjuna refers to previous authorities

Thus confirms Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Also by his own realisation)

Prays to Krishna to hear more of his glories so that he can always think of Him and remember Him

Otherwise Krishna will remain unknowable

Chapter 10, section III: Arjuna Accepts Krishna’s Position And Requests To Hear More
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arjunaḥ uvācaArjuna said
  2. paramsupreme
  3. brahmatruth
  4. paramsupreme
  5. dhāmasustenance
  6. pavitrampure
  7. paramamsupreme
  8. bhavānYou
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 10.12 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 10 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 10.13Arjuna accepts and asks to hear moreBG 10.14Arjuna accepts and asks to hear moreBG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow falls
Live this todayKṛṣṇa Gives Understanding Through ServiceA practice from BG 10.10, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
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  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction