Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 22

Chapter 10 – Vibhuti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः ।
इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ॥

Transliteration

vedānāṃ sāmavedo.asmi devānāmasmi vāsavaḥ .
indriyāṇāṃ manaścāsmi bhūtānāmasmi cetanā ॥

Meaning

Of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda; of the gods I am Vasava (Indra); of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am consciousness.

Word meanings

वेदानाम् – among the Vedas
सामवेदः – the Sama Veda
अस्मि – I am
देवानाम् – among the gods
अस्मि – I am
वासवः – Vasava, Indra
इन्द्रियाणाम् – among the senses
मनः – the mind
च – and
अस्मि – I am
भूतानाम् – in beings
अस्मि – I am
चेतना – consciousness

Anvaya (word order)

वेदानां सामवेदः अस्मि, देवानां वासवः अस्मि, इन्द्रियाणां मनः च अस्मि, भूतानां चेतना अस्मि ।

Explanation

In this verse Krishna names four glories, in the realms of knowledge, rule, the senses and life. Vedanam sama-vedo ’smi, ‘of the Vedas I am the Sama Veda’. Among the four Vedas, the Sama Veda holds a special place because its hymns are sung to melody. Many verses of the Rig Veda are set to music in the Sama Veda, and Indian classical music is traditionally traced to it. Shankara says it is foremost because of the sweetness of its chant. Music touches the heart most directly, which is why kirtan and bhajan are so central to devotion.

Devanam asmi vasavah, ‘of the gods I am Vasava’. Vasava means lord of the Vasus; Indra is king of the gods, ruler of heaven, wielder of rain and the thunderbolt. Among the gods the power of rule and leadership is greatest in him.

Indriyanam manash chasmi, ‘of the senses I am the mind’. There are five senses of knowledge and five of action, but the mind directs them all. The eye sees, yet if the mind is elsewhere nothing is seen. Shankara calls the mind the eleventh sense, the mover of all the others. So the mind should be treated as a divine glory and devoted to pure thoughts.

Bhutanam asmi chetana, ‘in beings I am consciousness’. Chetana is what distinguishes the living from the dead: the power to think, know and feel. A body with every organ intact but without consciousness is only a corpse. This consciousness is the nearest glimpse of the Lord, pulsing in every creature.

Context

Verse 21 named the Lord’s glory among the Adityas, lights, Maruts and stars. This verse names it in the Vedas, the gods, the senses and the consciousness of beings. In the next verse He speaks of the Rudras, the yakshas and rakshasas, the Vasus and the mountains.

Life lesson

Music and devotion are deeply linked; singing God’s praise reaches the heart fastest. Guard the mind as a divine glory and fill it with good thoughts. Seeing God in the consciousness of every creature, treat all with respect.

Key terms

Sama Veda: the Veda of sacred chant, root of Indian music
Vasava: lord of the Vasus, Indra
Manas: the mind, director of the senses
Chetana: consciousness, the power of life and awareness