Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 38

Chapter 10 – Vibhuti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् ।
मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ॥

Transliteration

daṇḍo damayatāmasmi nītirasmi jigīṣatām .
maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatāmaham ॥

Meaning

Among those who restrain I am the rod of discipline; among those who seek victory I am statesmanship; among secrets I am silence; and I am the knowledge of the wise.

Word meanings

दण्डः – the rod, power of punishment
दमयताम् – of those who restrain, rulers
अस्मि – I am
नीतिः – statesmanship, just policy
अस्मि – I am
जिगीषताम् – of those who seek victory
मौनम् – silence
च – and
एव – indeed
अस्मि – I am
गुह्यानाम् – among secrets
ज्ञानम् – knowledge
ज्ञानवताम् – of the wise
अहम् – I

Anvaya (word order)

दमयतां दण्डः अस्मि, जिगीषतां नीतिः अस्मि, गुह्यानां च मौनम् एव अस्मि, ज्ञानवतां ज्ञानम् अहम् (अस्मि) ।

Explanation

Dando damayatam asmi, ‘among those who restrain I am the rod’. To maintain order in society, wrongdoers must be checked, and the means is danda, just punishment. Shankara says it is danda that brings the unruly and the wayward back to the right path. The Manusmriti declares that danda governs and protects the people. But such discipline must be moved by justice, not by anger or revenge. A parent’s loving correction of a child is another form of it.

Nitir asmi jigishatam, ‘among those who seek victory I am niti’, just and skilful policy. Victory comes not from force alone but from wise strategy. Shankara makes clear that this is policy founded on justice, not deceit. Krishna Himself was the supreme master of statecraft in the Mahabharata: He went as envoy to seek peace, and in war guided events towards the victory of dharma.

Maunam chaivasmi guhyanam, ‘among secrets I am silence’. The surest way to keep a secret is silence; what has not been spoken cannot be revealed. There is a deeper spiritual meaning too: the supreme Truth lies beyond words and is realised only in silence. The Upanishads say that speech turns back from it, together with the mind. Dakshinamurti, the form of Shiva as teacher, dispels his disciples’ doubts through silent teaching, and a muni is one who keeps silence.

Jnanam jnanavatam aham, ‘I am the knowledge of the wise’. The knowledge of truth that shines in the wise is the Lord’s own nature. Thus this verse reveals His presence in governance, statecraft, silence and wisdom.

Context

Verse 37 named glories in Vasudeva, Arjuna, Vyasa and Shukracharya. This verse names the rod, statesmanship, silence and knowledge. In the next verse Krishna says He is the seed of all beings, and nothing moving or unmoving can exist without Him.

Life lesson

Discipline and justice are necessary for society, but they must be moved by love and fairness. Use just means to achieve success. Recognise the power of silence: speak less, listen more, and discover God in the silence within.

Key terms

Danda: just punishment, the power of discipline
Niti: just policy, statesmanship
Mauna: silence, guardian of secrets and gateway to the Truth
Jigisha: the desire for victory