Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 19 (BG 10.19) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 10.19 — Translation of Meaning Lord Sri Krishna's comprehensive and illuminating response, which expands this chapter to its full scope, describes the true recognition of the Self within each individual thing and person, as well as within their collective manifestations. Here, a matter worthy of special attention is that while describing His divine manifestations and yoga, Lord Sri Krishna takes particular care to convey two essential truths: (a) His supreme significance within every single thing, and (b) without Him, the harmonious existence of any single thing or collective whole would be impossible. The section begins with the word "hanta," which reveals the Gita Teacher's affectionate compassion toward Arjuna, and through it is also expressed the Lord's concern for the incapacity that Arjuna is experiencing—for because of that incapacity, he is unable to perceive that truth which is infinitely near to him, which is his very own nature. To regard the word "hanta" merely as an indicator marking the beginning of this section would result in the loss of the profound meaning inherent within it, and therefore such an interpretation cannot be accepted. The expansion of the Self, expressed in the form of this multifaceted creation through the conditions of the collective and individual, cannot have an end. Therefore, its description is impossible. Yet the Ocean of Compassion, Lord Sri Krishna, undertakes this impossible task because of His boundless grace toward His surrendered disciple Arjuna. He acknowledges that His manifestations have no end, and yet He will reveal to Arjuna His principal divine powers. In the material world, it is an experienced truth that sunlight is reflected from the surface of all things—whether stone or mirror—but in the mirror, its reflection or radiance appears far more clear and luminous. The Lord promises that He will give such examples in which the direct vision of the expression of divinity can be perceived. But before entering into the description of those divine manifestations, He reveals one fundamental truth.