Bhagavad Gita BG 10.14
Chapter 10, Verse 14 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सर्वमेतदृतं मन्ये यन्मां वदसि केशव । न हि ते भगवन्व्यक्तिं विदुर्देवा न दानवाः ॥
sarvam etad rtam manye yan mam vadasi keshava na hi te bhagavan vyaktim vidur deva na danavah
Meaning
All this that You tell me, O Keshava, I consider true. Neither the gods (deva) nor the demons (danava), O Blessed One, know Your manifestation (vyakti).
Understanding
Arjuna's complete acceptance: sarvam etad (all this) rtam manye (I consider true). This is not mere intellectual agreement — it is full existential acceptance (manye — I hold, I am convinced). Then the profound observation: na hi te bhagavan vyaktim viduh deva na danavah — neither the gods NOR the demons know Your vyakti (manifestation, appearance, self-revelation). Even the highest beings within creation — the devas (gods, luminous celestials) and danavas (demons, the opposing forces) — cannot know the Supreme's self-manifestation. Why? Because vyakti (manifestation/self-expression) of the Infinite cannot be fully grasped by any being within the finite universe.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ऋतम् | rtam | truth, what is right and real, cosmic truth |
| मन्ये | manye | I consider, I hold, I am convinced |
| केशव | keshava | O Keshava (epithet of Krishna: killer of the demon Keshi, or Lord of the senses) |
| व्यक्तिम् | vyaktim | manifestation, self-expression, appearance |
| दानवाः | danavah | demons, the danavas (sons of Danu, opposing forces) |
| सर्वम् | sarvam | all |
| एतत् | etat | this |
| ऋतम् | ṛtam | true |
| यन् | yan | which |
| माम् | mām | to me |
| वदसि | vadasi | you tell |
| केशव | keśava | O Krishna (killer of Keshi demon) |
| न | na | not |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| ते | te | Your |
| भगवन् | bhagavan | O Lord |
| विदुः | viduḥ | know |
| देवाः | devāḥ | the gods |
| न | na | nor |
| दानवाः | dānavāḥ | the demons |