Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 26

Chapter 10 – Vibhuti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः ।
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥

Transliteration

aśvatthaḥ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ .
gandharvāṇāṃ citrarathaḥ siddhānāṃ kapilo muniḥ ॥

Meaning

Among all trees I am the ashvattha; among divine sages, Narada; among the gandharvas, Chitraratha; among the perfected ones, the sage Kapila.

Word meanings

अश्वत्थः – the ashvattha, sacred fig tree
सर्ववृक्षाणाम् – among all trees
देवर्षीणाम् – among divine sages
च – and
नारदः – Narada
गन्धर्वाणाम् – among the gandharvas
चित्ररथः – Chitraratha
सिद्धानाम् – among the perfected ones
कपिलः – Kapila
मुनिः – the sage

Anvaya (word order)

सर्ववृक्षाणाम् अश्वत्थः, देवर्षीणां च नारदः, गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः, सिद्धानां कपिलः मुनिः (अहम् अस्मि) ।

Explanation

Ashvatthah sarva-vrikshanam, ‘among all trees I am the ashvattha’, the sacred fig or peepal. In Indian tradition it is the holiest of trees: it is worshipped and circumambulated, and people meditate beneath it. It is long-lived and vast, and traditionally regarded as giving life-breath day and night. In chapter 15 the Lord will compare the world itself to an inverted ashvattha tree, with its roots above in the Supreme and its branches spreading below in the world.

Devarshinam cha naradah, ‘among divine sages I am Narada’. Devarshis are celestial beings who are also seers of mantras. Narada is the greatest of them, a supreme devotee who roams the three worlds with his vina singing the name of Narayana. He guided many devotees, Dhruva, Prahlada and Valmiki among them, onto the path of devotion. Arjuna also mentioned him in verse 13.

Gandharvanam chitrarathah, ‘among the gandharvas I am Chitraratha’. Gandharvas are the singers and musicians of heaven, and Chitraratha is their king, a master of music. The Mahabharata tells how he fought Arjuna, was defeated, and then became his friend, even teaching him a divine art. The Lord’s glory is present in art and beauty too.

Siddhanam kapilo munih, ‘among the perfected I am the sage Kapila’. Siddhas are those who attained dharma, knowledge, dispassion and mastery from birth. Kapila is regarded as the founder of the Sankhya philosophy; in the Bhagavata Purana he is an incarnation of the Lord who taught Self-knowledge and devotion to his mother Devahuti. Perfection in wisdom and discernment is the Lord’s glory.

Context

Verse 25 named glories in Bhrigu, Om, japa and the Himalaya. This verse names the tree, divine sage, gandharva and perfected sage. In the next verse Krishna names Ucchaihshravas among horses, Airavata among elephants and the king among men.

Life lesson

Nature (the peepal), devotion (Narada), art (Chitraratha) and wisdom (Kapila) all reveal the Lord. Honour all four in life: protect trees, deepen devotion, appreciate beautiful art and cultivate discerning knowledge.

Key terms

Ashvattha: the sacred fig, holiest of trees
Narada: divine sage and supreme devotee
Gandharva: celestial singers and musicians
Chitraratha: king of the gandharvas
Kapila: founder of Sankhya, the perfected sage