Bhagavad Gita BG 10.36
Chapter 10, Verse 36 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् । जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥
dyutam chalayatam asmi tejas tejasvinam aham jayo 'smi vyavasayo 'smi sattvam sattvavatam aham
Meaning
I am the gambling of the deceitful (chalayatam); I am the splendour (tejas) of the splendid; I am victory (jaya); I am effort/determination (vyavasaya); I am the goodness/sattva of the good (sattvavatam).
Understanding
One of the most provocative verses: (1) Chalayatam dyutam — I am the gambling of the deceitful. Gambling (dyuta) itself is the vibhuti! This is not an endorsement of gambling but the recognition that even the most intense, most concentrated, highest-stakes activity — however transgressive — contains the Supreme's vibhuti. The gambler's complete concentration, the complete staking of everything — this intensity is the Supreme's trace. (2) Tejasvinam tejah — the splendour of the splendid. Not splendour in general but the concentrated, blazing energy of those who are already full of tejas. (3) Jayo 'smi — I am victory. (4) Vyavasayo 'smi — I am determination/purposeful effort (the same vyavasaya-atmika buddhi of 2.41). (5) Sattvavatam sattvam — the goodness (sattva) of the good/virtuous. The supreme quality is the vibhuti of the Supreme.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| द्यूतम् | dyutam | gambling, the dice-game (highest-stakes activity) |
| छलयताम् | chalayatam | of the deceitful, of those who play tricks |
| तेजः | tejah | splendour, radiant energy, the blazing power of the luminous |
| जयः | jayah | victory, triumph |
| व्यवसायः | vyavasayah | determined effort, purposeful resolve, firm decision |
| सत्त्वम् | sattvam | goodness, purity, the sattva quality — virtue and luminosity |
| द्यूतम् | dyūtam | gambling |
| छलयताम् | chalayatām | of the deceitful |
| अस्मि | asmi | I am |
| तेजः | tejaḥ | splendor |
| तेजस्विनाम् | tejasvinām | of the splendid |
| अहम् | aham | I am |
| जयः | jayaḥ | victory |
| अस्मि | asmi | I am |
| व्यवसायः | vyavasāyaḥ | determination, enterprise |
| अस्मि | asmi | I am |
| सत्त्ववताम् | sattvāvatām | of the virtuous |
| अहम् | aham | I am |
📖 Learn "Divine Glories — Death, Speech, Seasons, and No End" →