Bhagavad Gita BG 10.40
Chapter 10, Verse 40 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
नान्तोऽस्ति मम दिव्यानां विभूतीनां परन्तप । एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो विभूतेर्विस्तरो मया ॥
nanto 'sti mama divyanam vibhutinm parantapa esha tu 'ddeshatah prokto vibhuter vistaro maya
Meaning
There is no end (anta) to My divine vibhutis, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes). This account of My vibhuti has been declared (prokto) by Me only by way of example (uddeshatah).
Understanding
The perfect conclusion: nantah asti (there is no end) mama divyanam vibhuthinam (of My divine vibhutis), O Parantapa. The Infinite cannot be enumerated. What has been shared in verses 20-39 is not an exhaustive catalogue but uddeshatah — by way of indication, by example. Uddesha means 'pointing toward' — the vibhutis are pointers, not the complete picture. The complete picture is inexhaustible. This is the Gita's consistent teaching: the Absolute cannot be grasped by any finite enumeration. The vibhutis are windows; the Supreme is what is glimpsed through them — infinite, without end, the inexhaustible ground of all excellence. The practitioner's role: learn to see the Infinite through any and every finite excellence.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नान्तः अस्ति | na antah asti | there is no end, without end |
| दिव्यानाम् | divyanam | of the divine, of the celestial/transcendent |
| विभूतीनाम् | vibhuthinam | of the divine glories/powers/manifestations |
| परन्तप | parantapa | O Parantapa (scorcher of foes, epithet of Arjuna) |
| उद्देशतः | uddeshatah | by way of example, by indication, as a sample/pointer |
| प्रोक्तः | proktah | declared, stated, spoken |
| न | na | not |
| अन्तः | antaḥ | end, limit |
| अस्ति | asti | there is |
| मम | mama | My |
| दिव्यानाम् | divyānām | of divine |
| विभूतीनाम् | vibhūtīnām | of opulences |
| एषः | eṣaḥ | this |
| तु | tu | but |
| उद्देशतः | uddeśataḥ | by way of example, briefly |
| प्रोक्तः | proktaḥ | has been declared |
| विभूतेः | vibhūteḥ | of the opulences |
| विस्तारः | vistāraḥ | the extent, elaboration |
| मया | mayā | by Me |
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