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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 ›
Krishna’s natureChapter 10 · The Opulence of the Absolute
10.3310.35

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 10.34

Krishna’s divine opulences and manifestations

Īśvara · God

मृत्यु: सर्वहरश्चाहमुद्भ‍वश्च भविष्यताम् ।

कीर्ति: श्रीर्वाक्‍च नारीणां स्मृतिर्मेधा धृति: क्षमा ॥ ३४ ॥

mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham

udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām

kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāṁ

smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

Translation

I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.

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’s Powers and Qualities

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is all-devouring death and the source of all future beings. Among women, He is fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that death works at every moment. Both death and birth, the beginning of future activities, are Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Use intelligence to understand and apply what you study. Practice patience by staying humble, gentle and balanced in sorrow and joy.

Further reading

Krishna’s Opulences Krishna Describes The Most Prominent Among His

limitless, all-pervading opulences

Names His opulences and then explains that these opulences simply indicate a fraction of His glory

Because He pervades and supports the entire universe with a mere fragment of His total potency

Chapter 10, section IV: Krishna’s Opulences Krishna Describes The Most Prominent Among His
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛtyuḥdeath
  2. sarva-haraḥall-devouring
  3. caalso
  4. ahamI am
  5. udbhavaḥgeneration
  6. caalso
  7. bhaviṣyatāmof future manifestations
  8. kīrtiḥfame
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 10.34 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

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 10.19Krishna’s divine opulences and manifestationsBG 10.20Krishna’s divine opulences and manifestationsBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence
Live this todaySeeing Kṛṣṇa in TimeA practice from BG 10.33, close to this verse

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

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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