Bhagavad Gita BG 10.26
Chapter 10, Verse 26 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः । गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥
ashvatthah sarva-vrkshanam devarshhinam ca naradah gandhavanam citrarthah sidhanam kapilo munih
Meaning
Among all trees I am the Ashvattha (sacred fig/peepal); among divine sages (devarshi) I am Narada; among Gandharvas I am Chitraratha; among perfected sages (siddha) I am Kapila the sage.
Understanding
Four vibhutis touching trees, sages, celestials, and perfected masters: (1) Sarva-vrkshanam Ashvatthah — among all trees, the Ashvattha (peepal/Ficus religiosa). This tree is sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions (the Buddha was enlightened under it — the Bodhi tree). It is said to be immortal in the tradition — 'a-shvatha' (not stable for tomorrow) or 'ashvatta' (where horses stand), and is worshipped as the tree of cosmic knowledge. (2) Devarshhinam Naradah — Narada, the divine wandering sage, the supreme devotee. (3) Gandharvanam Chitrarathah — among Gandharvas (celestial musicians), the most accomplished is Chitraratha. (4) Siddhanam Kapilah — among the perfected sages, Kapila, the founder of Sankhya philosophy — the sage who gave the world the framework of consciousness and matter.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अश्वत्थः | ashvatthah | the Ashvattha tree (peepal/sacred fig, Ficus religiosa) |
| देवर्षीणाम् | devarshhinam | among divine sages (deva = divine + rishi = seer) |
| गन्धर्वाणाम् | gandhavanam | among the Gandharvas (celestial musicians) |
| चित्ररथः | citrarthah | Chitraratha — the chief of the celestial musicians |
| सिद्धानाम् | siddhanam | among the siddhas (perfected ones, adepts) |
| कपिलः | kapilah | Kapila — founder of Sankhya, the archetypal perfected sage |
| अश्वत्थः | aśvatthaḥ | the Ashvattha (pipal tree) |
| सर्व-वृक्षाणाम् | sarva-vṛkṣāṇām | of all trees |
| देवर्षीणाम् | devarṣīṇām | of the divine sages |
| च | ca | and |
| नारदः | nāradaḥ | Narada |
| गन्धर्वाणाम् | gandharvāṇām | of the Gandharvas |
| चित्ररथः | citrarāthaḥ | Citraratha |
| सिद्धानाम् | siddhānām | of the perfected beings |
| कपिलः | kapilaḥ | Kapila (the sage) |
| मुनिः | muniḥ | the sage |
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