Bhagavad Gita 10.16 — Arjuna Asks the Lord to Reveal His Divine Glories
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः ।
याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥ १०.१६ ॥
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Arjuna said: You alone are able to describe completely Your divine glories, by which You abide pervading all these worlds.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| vaktum | to tell, to describe |
| arhasi | You are fit, You are able |
| aśheṣheṇa | completely, without omission |
| divyāḥ | divine |
| hi | indeed |
| ātmavibhūtayaḥ | Your own glories |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yābhiḥ | by which |
| vibhūtibhiḥ | glories |
| lokān | worlds |
| imān | these |
| tvam | You |
| vyāpya | pervading |
| tiṣhṭhasi | You abide, You remain |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| vaktum | to tell, to describe | yābhiḥ | by which |
| arhasi | You are fit, You are able | vibhūtibhiḥ | glories |
| aśheṣheṇa | completely, without omission | lokān | worlds |
| divyāḥ | divine | imān | these |
| hi | indeed | tvam | You |
| ātmavibhūtayaḥ | Your own glories | vyāpya | pervading |
| tiṣhṭhasi | You abide, You remain | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Here, Arjuna makes a sincere request: he asks Lord Krishna to describe, without leaving anything out, the divine glories by which He pervades and remains established in all the worlds. The verse turns Arjuna's praise into a concrete prayer for further knowledge.
Essence
A Student's Humble Request
Vaktum arhasi (You alone are able to tell): Because no one else can know the Lord completely, Arjuna says that Krishna alone is qualified to describe Him. This is the right attitude of a student: recognising the proper source of knowledge.
Aśeṣeṇa (without leaving anything out): Arjuna is eager for the full picture. His thirst for understanding is wholehearted.
Divyā ātma-vibhūtayaḥ (Your divine glories): Vibhūti refers to the special manifestations of the Lord's power, beauty and splendour that can be seen in creation. They are called divya, divine, because they are not ordinary achievements but reflections of the Supreme.
Yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imān tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi (by which You pervade and remain in all these worlds): Arjuna understands that the Lord is not distant from creation. He permeates it, as the same sweetness pervades every part of a sugar cane.
Why Does Arjuna Ask?
The Lord is infinite, and the human mind needs something it can grasp. The vibhūtis serve as stepping stones. We cannot meditate easily on something without form or limit, but we can begin by recognising the divine in what is most excellent and beautiful around us. This is the practical purpose of the request.
Message for Everyday Life (Asking Sincere Questions)
Ask with sincerity: The best learning begins with a heartfelt question rather than a challenge. Approach teachers, books and life itself with that attitude.
Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary: Training our eyes to notice excellence and beauty, in nature, in people and in art, gradually opens a window to the Divine.
A Student's Humble Request
Vaktum arhasi (You alone are able to tell): Because no one else can know the Lord completely, Arjuna says that Krishna alone is qualified to describe Him. This is the right attitude of a student: recognising the proper source of knowledge.
Aśeṣeṇa (without leaving anything out): Arjuna is eager for the full picture. His thirst for understanding is wholehearted.
Divyā ātma-vibhūtayaḥ (Your divine glories): Vibhūti refers to the special manifestations of the Lord's power, beauty and splendour that can be seen in creation. They are called divya, divine, because they are not ordinary achievements but reflections of the Supreme.
Yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imān tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi (by which You pervade and remain in all these worlds): Arjuna understands that the Lord is not distant from creation. He permeates it, as the same sweetness pervades every part of a sugar cane.
Why Does Arjuna Ask?
The Lord is infinite, and the human mind needs something it can grasp. The vibhūtis serve as stepping stones. We cannot meditate easily on something without form or limit, but we can begin by recognising the divine in what is most excellent and beautiful around us. This is the practical purpose of the request.
Message for Everyday Life (Asking Sincere Questions)
Ask with sincerity: The best learning begins with a heartfelt question rather than a challenge. Approach teachers, books and life itself with that attitude.
Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary: Training our eyes to notice excellence and beauty, in nature, in people and in art, gradually opens a window to the Divine.
Next Topic
Arjuna has asked to hear the complete list of the Lord's divine glories. In the next verse, he adds a deeper concern: how can a seeker who meditates constantly on the Lord know Him, and in what forms should He be contemplated?
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
A well-placed question is a form of respect.
Admitting what we cannot describe is the start of understanding.
The Divine is closer in the world than we think.
Wonder keeps the learner young.
The right teacher shortens a long journey.
Only an honest heart asks without pretence.
Greatness is best understood through its signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'vaktum arhasi' (You are fit to tell) show about Arjuna's attitude?
Why does Arjuna ask for 'aśheṣheṇa' (completely, without omission)?
What are 'ātmavibhūtayaḥ' (the Lord's own glories)?
What does 'divyāḥ' (divine) imply about these glories?
What does 'lokān imān vyāpya tiṣhṭhasi' (You abide pervading these worlds) mean?
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