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In the previous chapter, Shri Krishna mentions the significance of Bhakti or the path of devotion and how it leads toward God. Shri Krishna reveals that he is the source of everything, and everything gets absorbed back into him. Krishna reveals that all the people of the words are descended from him. His mind creates the seven great sages, the four great saints, and the fourteen Manus.
All the exceptional qualities of a living being also come from him only. Devotees who revere him in everything and walk on the path of Bhakti get Shri Krishna, and God dwells in the heart of them. He bestows such devotees with his grand knowledge that helps understand the Supreme.
By now, Arjun is now fully convinced that Shri Krishna is no one but the Divine Supreme himself. He understands how Krishna is the beginning, middle, and end of everything. He is the powerhouse of knowledge, creation, and every manifestation happens from his energies.
In this chapter, Krishna describes his magnificence; he defines the personalities and activities to bring focus on the magnitude of his glory.
The Lord said: Listen to my divine teachings, O Arjun. I am revealing the greatest truth to you since you are my beloved friend.
I am the source of gods, and no one knows me but me only. No celestial Gods or great sages know my origin.
Those who see me as unborn or having no beginning and those who see me as the Lord of the Universe get liberated from all the illusions.
All the qualities of the beings such as intellect, thoughts, forgiveness, truthfulness, joy, senses, death, fear, courage, austerity, charity, and everything, all these come from me.
The wise who know me worship me with great devotion and finds me in the end.
When the mind of someone is fixated on me and lives surrendered to me, always remain contented. My Bhakti derives them great satisfaction and brings bliss due to enlightenment.
The minds that are always engaged in me, I bless them with the divine knowledge that they attain me happily. When I dwell in the heart, I destroy all the darkness and illuminate the heart with the lamp of knowledge.
Arjun said: O Supreme Personality, I know you are the Eternal God, you are the Unborn, the creator of the cosmic. All the great sages like Narad, Asit, Deval, and Vyas declared it, and now you have declared it yourself.
O Krishna, I totally accept everything you have told me. I see it as the ultimate truth, and I also understand that no one can fully understand what you are.
You alone know yourself and your inconceivable energy. O Supreme Personality, reveal to me your opulence and how you reside in all the worlds. Tell me how I can think of you and know you. Tell me while meditating how to imagine you.
Tell me in detail, O Janardan. I want to hear it all, and I can never get tired of hearing this ultimate nectar of knowledge.
The Lord spoke: I shall now describe my glories to you. O best of the Kurus, there is no end to the details, however.
O Arjun, I live in all the living beings; I am in the heart of them. I am the beginning, the middle, and the ending.
I am Vishnu amongst the twelve sons of Aditi. I am the illumination of the Sun, and I am the Moon amongst the stars. In everything, whatever is Superior, it is Me only.
Among the Vedas, I am the Sāma Veda. Among the celestial gods, I am Indra. I am the consciousness of all living beings.
Amongst the Rudras, I am Shankar. Among demons, I am Kuber, and among the Vasus and Meru, I am Agni.
O Arjun, I am Brihaspati when it comes to priests, I am Kartikeya when it comes to the greatest warrior. When it is about the water reservoir, I am the ocean.
I am Bhrigu, and the sound of Om. I am the Himalayas when it is about the immovable things.
I am Narad when it comes to the most superior celestial sages. Among trees, I am the peepul tree, and among the Gandharvas I am Chitrath, and among the Siddhas, I am the sage Kapil.
In the most superior horses, I am Ucchaihshrava; I am the nectar of the churning ocean. Among weapons, I am the Vajra, Kamadhenu among the cows. I am Kaamdev, the God of love, the cause of procreation, and in the serpents, I am the Vasuki.
In the departed ones, I am the ancestors, and I am Anant in the snakes. I am Varun among all the aquatics, and in the death, I am Yamraj.
I am Prahlad among the demons, I am time that controls everything. I am the lion among the animals, and I am Garuda among the birds.
I am the purest wind, and I am Lord Ram. In water creatures, I am a crocodile, and in rivers, I am Ganges.
In sciences, I am the science of spirituality. O Arjun, in debates, I am the logic and conclusion. Know that I am the beginning, middle, and end of every creation.
In letters, I am “A,” and in grammar, I am the dual word. In the creators, I am Brahma, and I am the endless time.
I am the origin of things, and I am also the death. In feminine qualities, I am fame, memory, intelligence, decent speech, courage, and forgiveness.
In the hymns of Sama Veda, I am the Brihatsama. In poetic rhythms, I am Gayatri, and in the Hindu calendar, I am the month Margsheersh. In seasons I am Spring which brings new flowers and aromas to life.
I am the gambling of the gambler and resolve of the resolute. I am the victory of the winner and the virtue of the righteous person.
Amongst the descendants of Vrishni, I am Krishna, Arjun among the Pandavas. Among Sages, I am Ved Vyasa and Shukracharya amongst the great thinkers.
Those who break the law I am the punishment, and I am the wisdom of a wise man.
O Arjun, no creature moves without my wish, and I am the originating seed of the entire cosmic. All creatures moving on non-moving happen on my desire. There is no end to my manifestations. What I just told you is a mere example of my infinite glories.
Whatever thing you see that is most powerful, illuminating, or beautiful is nothing but a spark of my splendor. No need for any more detail when you know that I support and run this entire creation.