Chapter 10 · Shloka 28— The Yoga of Divine Glories

āyudhānām ahaṁ vajraṁ dhenūnām asmi kāmadhuk prajanaśh chāsmi kandarpaḥ sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ

āyudhānām

— amongst weapons

aham

— I

vajram

— the Vajra (thunderbolt)

dhenūnām

— amongst cows

asmi

— I am

kāma-dhuk

— Kamdhenu

prajanaḥ

— amongst causes for procreation

cha

— and

asmi

— I am

kandarpaḥ

— Kaamdev, the god of love

sarpāṇām

— amongst serpents

asmi

— I am

vāsukiḥ

— serpent Vasuki

"Ayudhanam aham vajram dhenunam asmi kamadhuk, prajanas casmi kandarpah sarpanam asmi vasukih." — Among weapons I am the thunderbolt (vajra); among cows I am Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow; I am Kandarpa (Kama), the god of generation, that begets offspring; among serpents I am Vasuki. Krishna continues. 'Ayudhanam aham vajram' — among weapons, I am the vajra, the thunderbolt (Indra's invincible weapon, symbol of irresistible power). 'Dhenunam asmi kamadhuk' — among cows, I am Kamadhenu (Kamadhuk), the celestial wish-fulfilling cow that grants all desires. 'Prajanah ca asmi kandarpah' — I am Kandarpa (here Kama as the principle of procreation, of generation), the cause by which offspring (praja) come into being — but note the qualification implicit here, consistent with 7.11: this is the procreative principle in its dharmic, life-affirming aspect, not mere lust. 'Sarpanam asmi vasukih' — among serpents (sarpas), I am Vasuki, their king. Shankaracharya notes the continuing breadth and the consistent principle of the foremost in each kind. The list ranges across weapons, divine animals, the principle of generation, and serpents. The identification with 'Kandarpa, that which begets offspring' is worth noting in light of 7.11 ('I am desire that is not contrary to dharma'). The procreative, generative power — the force of life perpetuating itself, when operating within dharma — is itself a divine glory. The very impulse by which life continues and renews is sacred when it expresses life's natural, righteous flourishing. The insight continues the comprehensive vision: even the generative force of life itself, the power by which life perpetuates and renews, is a divine glory (when expressing dharma). This affirms that the natural processes of life — including the creative, generative energies — are not opposed to the sacred but are expressions of it. Life's own drive to continue, create, and flourish is, at its best, a participation in the divine creativity. The sacred isn't only in transcending life's energies but in their healthy, righteous expression. The very force of life renewing itself is holy.

Among this list, Krishna includes 'Kandarpa, the principle of generation' — the procreative, life-renewing force, understood (consistent with 7.11) in its dharmic, life-affirming aspect. This affirms something worth noticing: even the generative energy of life itself, the power by which life perpetuates and renews, is a divine glory when expressing healthy, righteous flourishing. The deeper insight: the natural creative and life-giving energies aren't opposed to the sacred — they're expressions of it. Some spiritual framings treat the body and life's vital energies as obstacles to transcend, things to be suppressed and escaped. The Gita's vision is more integrated: life's own drive to create, continue, and flourish is, at its best, a participation in the divine creativity. The sacred isn't found only by rejecting or transcending life's natural energies — it's also found in their healthy, dharmic expression. The creative force in you — to make, to build, to bring new things and new life into the world — is itself something holy when channeled rightly. So you don't have to deny life's vital energies to be spiritual; you have to express them in alignment with what's right and good. Life renewing and creating itself is, at its best, sacred.

Among this list, Krishna includes 'Kandarpa, the principle of generation' — the procreative, life-renewing force, understood (consistent with 7.11) in its dharmic, life-affirming aspect. This affirms something worth noticing: even the generative energy of life itself, the power by which life keeps renewing, is a divine glory when expressing healthy, righteous flourishing. The deeper insight: the natural creative and life-giving energies aren't opposed to the sacred — they're expressions of it. Some spiritual framings treat the body and life's vital energies as obstacles to transcend, stuff to suppress and escape. The Gita's vision is more integrated: life's own drive to create, continue, and flourish is, at its best, a participation in the divine creativity. The sacred isn't found only by rejecting or transcending life's natural energies — it's also found in their healthy, right expression. The creative force in you — to make, build, bring new things and new life into the world — is itself something holy when channeled rightly. So you don't have to deny life's vital energies to be 'spiritual'; you have to express them in alignment with what's right and good. Life renewing and creating itself is, at its best, sacred.

Krishna continues with more amazing examples — the mighty thunderbolt among weapons, the wish-granting cow Kamadhenu, the king of serpents! And he includes the special power that brings new life into the world. Here's a beautiful idea hidden in this: the creative power of life — the way life keeps making new life, growing, and renewing itself — is also a divine glory when it's used in good and right ways! This teaches us that being creative, making new things, and helping life grow and flourish are wonderful, sacred things! When you create something beautiful, help a plant grow, or bring more goodness into the world, you're sharing in God's amazing creative power! So use your creative energy for good things — making, building, growing, and helping life flourish. The wonderful power to create and renew is part of God's glory! Create good things in the world!