Bhagavad Gita BG 10.16
Chapter 10, Verse 16 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः । याभिर्विभूतिभिर्लोकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्य तिष्ठसि ॥
vaktum arhasy asheshena divya hy atma-vibhutayah yabhir vibhutibhir lokan tvam imam vyapya tishthasi
Meaning
Please tell me completely of Your divine self-glories — by which vibhutis (glories) You pervade these worlds and abide.
Understanding
Arjuna's request: vaktum arhasi asheshena (please tell completely, without remainder) — divya atma-vibhutayah (the divine self-glories). Yabhir vibhutibhih (by which glories) lokan tvam imam vyapya tishthasi (You pervade and abide in these worlds). Arjuna knows the theoretical answer from the preceding teaching. Now he wants the specific, concrete manifestations — what does Krishna look like when glimpsed in the world? Where can he see the divine in daily experience? This request opens the beautiful catalog of vibhutis in verses 20-42.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अशेषेण | asheshena | completely, without remainder |
| दिव्याः | divyah | divine, celestial |
| आत्मविभूतयः | atma-vibhutayah | self-glories, glories of the Self |
| व्याप्य | vyapya | having pervaded, pervading |
| तिष्ठसि | tishthasi | you abide, you stand, you exist |
| वक्तुम् | vaktum | to describe, to tell |
| अर्हसि | arhasi | You should, please |
| अशेषेण | aśeṣeṇa | completely, without remainder |
| दिव्याः | divyāḥ | divine |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| आत्म-विभूतयः | ātma-vibhūtayaḥ | Your divine opulences |
| याभिः | yābhiḥ | by which |
| विभूतिभिः | vibhūtibhiḥ | by opulences |
| लोकान् | lokān | the worlds |
| त्वम् | tvam | You |
| इमम् | imam | this |
| व्याप्य | vyāpya | pervading |
| तिष्ठसि | tiṣṭhasi | You stand, You remain |