Chapter 10 · Shloka 34— The Yoga of Divine Glories

mṛityuḥ sarva-haraśh chāham udbhavaśh cha bhaviṣhyatām kīrtiḥ śhrīr vāk cha nārīṇāṁ smṛitir medhā dhṛitiḥ kṣhamā

mṛityuḥ

— death

sarva-haraḥ

— all-devouring

cha

— and

aham

— I

udbhavaḥ

— the origin

cha

— and

bhaviṣhyatām

— those things that are yet to be

kīrtiḥ

— fame

śhrīḥ

— prospective

vāk

— fine speech

cha

— and

nārīṇām

— amongst feminine qualities

smṛitiḥ

— memory

medhā

— intelligence

dhṛitiḥ

— courage

kṣhamā

— forgiveness

"Mrtyuh sarva-haras caham udbhavas ca bhavisyatam, kirtih sris ca vak ca narinam smrtir medha dhrtih ksama." — I am all-devouring death, and the origin of all that is yet to be; and among feminine qualities I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and patience. Krishna continues with striking range. 'Mrtyuh sarva-harah ca aham' — I am death (mrtyu) that carries away all (sarva-hara), the great destroyer that eventually claims everything. 'Udbhavah ca bhavisyatam' — and I am also the origin (udbhava) of all that is yet to come (bhavisyatam), the source of all future arising. Krishna embraces both poles again (cf. 9.19): the end of all AND the origin of all, death AND the source of new life. Then he names seven beautiful qualities, traditionally personified as feminine (narinam): 'kirti' (fame, good repute), 'sri' (prosperity, beauty, auspiciousness), 'vak' (speech, eloquence), 'smrti' (memory), 'medha' (intelligence, retentive wisdom), 'dhrti' (steadfastness, fortitude), and 'ksama' (patience, forgiveness). These cherished qualities — the capacities for memory, intelligence, eloquence, steadfastness, patience, and the blessings of prosperity and good repute — are all divine glories. Shankaracharya notes that by including both death and the origin of all things-to-come in a single verse, Krishna again unites the opposites (as in 9.19), showing the Divine as the whole, encompassing both ending and beginning. Two insights. First, the embrace of both death and new origination: the Divine is the great destroyer AND the source of all new beginnings. Every ending the Divine brings is paired with new origination; death and birth, dissolution and creation, are two faces of the one reality. This is steadying: endings are never the final word — they're balanced by new beginnings within the same divine wholeness. Second, the list of cherished inner qualities — memory, intelligence, steadfastness, patience, eloquence — as divine glories: the very capacities that make for a capable, resilient, admirable person are themselves expressions of the Divine. To cultivate patience, steadfastness, intelligence, and the other noble qualities is to grow the divine glory within yourself. These aren't merely useful traits; they're sacred capacities, divinely rooted, worth cultivating as participation in the deeper reality.

Two insights stand out in this rich verse. First, Krishna again unites the opposites: 'I am all-devouring death AND the origin of all that is yet to be.' Every ending the universe brings is paired with new origination — death and birth, dissolution and creation, are two faces of one reality. This is genuinely steadying: endings are never the final word. They're always balanced by new beginnings within the same wholeness. When something ends — a chapter of life, a relationship, an era — it's not pure loss falling outside any order; it's part of a rhythm that also brings new origination. Second, Krishna names cherished inner qualities — memory, intelligence, steadfastness, patience, eloquence, and the blessings of good repute and prosperity — as divine glories. The very capacities that make a person capable, resilient, and admirable are themselves expressions of the Divine. This means cultivating patience, steadfastness, intelligence, and the other noble qualities isn't just self-improvement — it's growing the divine glory within yourself. These aren't merely 'useful traits'; they're sacred capacities, divinely rooted. So work on building patience, fortitude, a sharp mind, a good memory, the ability to speak well — and recognize that in doing so, you're nurturing something genuinely sacred in yourself. And take heart: every ending is also a beginning.

Two insights stand out in this rich verse. First, Krishna again unites the opposites: 'I am all-devouring death AND the origin of all that's yet to be.' Every ending the universe brings is paired with new origination — death and birth, dissolution and creation, are two faces of one reality. This is genuinely steadying: endings are never the final word. They're always balanced by new beginnings within the same wholeness. When something ends — a chapter of life, a relationship, an era — it's not pure loss falling outside any order; it's part of a rhythm that ALSO brings new origination. Second, Krishna names cherished inner qualities — memory, intelligence, steadfastness, patience, eloquence, plus the blessings of good reputation and prosperity — as divine glories. The very capacities that make a person capable, resilient, and admirable are themselves expressions of the Divine. So cultivating patience, steadfastness, intelligence, and the other noble qualities isn't just 'self-improvement' — it's literally growing the divine glory within yourself. These aren't just 'useful traits'; they're sacred capacities, divinely rooted. So work on building patience, fortitude, a sharp mind, the ability to speak well — and know that in doing so, you're nurturing something genuinely sacred in yourself. And take heart: every ending is also a beginning.

Krishna shares two big things here! First, He says He is both death (which takes things away at the end) AND the beginning of everything new that will come! So endings and new beginnings are both part of God — when one thing ends, something new begins! That's comforting: endings are never the whole story, because new beginnings always come too, like winter turning into spring! Second, Krishna lists wonderful qualities like memory, intelligence, patience, steadfastness (not giving up), and speaking well — and says these are all His glories! This means when you work on becoming more patient, smarter, more steady and reliable, and better at expressing yourself — you're growing something truly sacred and wonderful inside you! So practice patience and steadiness, build your memory and mind — these good qualities are like divine treasures growing in your heart! And always remember: every ending leads to a beautiful new beginning!