Bhagavad Gita 10.28 — The Lord as the Thunderbolt, Kāmadhenu, Kandarpa and Vāsuki

Power, Abundance, Creation and Might

Āyudhānām aham vajram (among weapons, I am the thunderbolt): The vajra is the weapon of Indra, made from the bones of the sage Dadhīci, who offered his body for a righteous cause. It is the most powerful of weapons, and it is associated with sacrifice for a noble purpose.

Dhenūnām asmi kāmadhuk (among cows, I am the Kāmadhenu): The Kāmadhenu is the divine cow that grants all desires. The cow is revered in the tradition as a symbol of nourishment and generosity. The Kāmadhenu represents abundance that fulfils needs without limit.

Prajanaś cāsmi kandarpaḥ (I am Kandarpa, the cause of offspring): Kandarpa is another name for Kāma, the deity of love and desire. Here the context is specific: it is the creative impulse that continues the generations of living beings. The Lord is present in this life-giving force when it operates within dharma. Elsewhere in the Gita, Krishna says He is desire that is not contrary to dharma, which clarifies that this is not an endorsement of uncontrolled craving.

Sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ (among serpents, I am Vāsuki): Vāsuki is the king of the serpents, who served as the rope during the churning of the ocean. He represents strength and the commanding presence of the serpent kind.

Power, Giving and Creation Within Dharma

The four examples point to the proper use of power, the blessing of abundance, the sacred dimension of creation and the strength of the mighty. The consistent lesson is that each of these is divine when aligned with dharma, and each can mislead when severed from it.

Message for Everyday Life (Directing Strength and Desire Wisely)

Use strength for the good: Like the vajra, which came from an act of sacrifice, power finds its best use in protecting and uplifting others.

Keep desires aligned with values: Wanting a family, success or comfort is natural. The Gita asks only that desires remain within ethical bounds and be guided by wisdom.