Chapter 10 · Shloka 16— The Yoga of Divine Glories

vaktum arhasyaśheṣheṇa divyā hyātma-vibhūtayaḥ yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imāṁs tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣhṭhasi

vaktum

— to describe

arhasi

— please do

aśheṣheṇa

— completely

divyāḥ

— divine

hi

— indeed

ātma

— your own

vibhūtayaḥ

— opulences

yābhiḥ

— by which

vibhūtibhiḥ

— opulences

lokān

— all worlds

imān

— these

tvam

— you

vyāpya

— pervade

tiṣhṭhasi

— reside

"Vaktum arhasy asesena divya hy atma-vibhutayah, yabhir vibhutibhir lokan imams tvam vyapya tisthasi." — You alone can fully describe Your divine glories (vibhutis), by which You pervade and abide within all these worlds. Arjuna now makes a specific request that will shape the rest of the chapter. Having recognized Krishna's supreme nature (10.12–15), he asks: 'vaktum arhasi asesena divyah hi atma-vibhutayah' — You alone are able (arhasi) to describe completely (asesena, without remainder) Your own divine glories (atma-vibhutayah). 'Yabhih vibhutibhih lokan iman tvam vyapya tisthasi' — the glories (vibhutis) by which You pervade (vyapya) and abide within (tisthasi) all these worlds. Shankaracharya explains that Arjuna is asking specifically about the 'vibhutis' — the divine glories, the special manifestations or expressions of the Divine in particular excellent and powerful things of the world. Arjuna wants to know: where, specifically, can the Divine be recognized? In what forms and qualities does the divine glory especially shine forth? This is a practical and devotionally important request. The general teaching that the Divine pervades all (9.4, 10.8) is profound but abstract. Arjuna wants something more concrete: specific examples, particular points where the divine presence is most recognizable, so that his mind can rest on them in contemplation and devotion. The insight is practically wise: the abstract truth that 'the Divine is everywhere' is hard for the mind to actually hold and use. We need concrete touchpoints — specific places, qualities, and examples where we can clearly recognize the deeper reality. Arjuna's request models good spiritual practice: he asks for specific, recognizable expressions of the Divine that his mind can actually focus on. The general principle becomes livable when it's made concrete. Sometimes the most helpful thing is not another abstract truth but specific, vivid examples you can actually rest your attention on.

Arjuna makes a practically wise request: he asks Krishna for SPECIFIC examples of where the divine glory shines forth most clearly. Notice why this matters — the general truth 'the Divine is everywhere' (which Krishna taught earlier) is profound but abstract, and abstract truths are hard for the mind to actually hold and use. Arjuna asks for concrete touchpoints: specific places, qualities, things where the deeper reality is most recognizable. This models genuinely good practice in any domain. We often crave the grand abstract principle, but the abstract principle alone rarely changes how we actually live. What helps is concrete, vivid examples we can rest our attention on. 'Be present' is abstract; 'feel your feet on the floor right now' is usable. 'The sacred is everywhere' is abstract; 'notice the light in someone's eyes' is usable. The lesson: when a big truth feels too abstract to apply, do what Arjuna does — ask for, or seek out, the specific concrete examples that make it livable. The general becomes real when it gets specific. Don't just collect grand principles; find the concrete touchpoints that let you actually live them.

Arjuna makes a practically wise request: he asks Krishna for SPECIFIC examples of where the divine glory shines through most clearly. Notice why this matters — the general truth 'the Divine is everywhere' (which Krishna taught earlier) is profound but abstract, and abstract truths are genuinely hard for the mind to actually hold and use. Arjuna asks for concrete touchpoints: specific places, qualities, things where the deeper reality is most recognizable. This models genuinely good practice in ANY area. We often crave the grand abstract principle, but the abstract principle alone rarely changes how we actually live day to day. What helps is concrete, vivid examples you can rest your attention on. 'Be present' is abstract; 'feel your feet on the floor right now' is usable. 'The sacred is everywhere' is abstract; 'notice the light in someone's eyes' is usable. The lesson: when a big truth feels too abstract to apply, do what Arjuna does — ask for, or seek out, the specific concrete examples that make it livable. The general becomes real when it gets specific. Don't just collect grand principles — find the concrete touchpoints that let you actually live them.

Arjuna asks Krishna a really smart question! He's learned that God is everywhere, but that's a big, hard-to-picture idea. So Arjuna asks: 'Can You tell me specific examples of where Your divine glory shines the most?' He wants concrete examples his mind can hold onto! That's a great way to learn: when something is too big and abstract to picture, ask for specific examples! 'God is everywhere' is hard to imagine — but 'God is the brightness of the sun, the power of the ocean, the wisdom in great teachers' is much easier to picture and remember! When a big idea feels too fuzzy, look for clear, specific examples that make it real. Krishna is about to give Arjuna lots of wonderful, specific examples of where to see the Divine! Specific examples make big ideas come alive!