Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Verse 10.36
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्। जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम्।।10.36।।
dyūtaṁ chhalayatām asmi tejas tejasvinām aham jayo ’smi vyavasāyo ’smi sattvaṁ sattvavatām aham
Word Meanings
dyūtam—gambling; chhalayatām—of all cheats; asmi—I am; tejaḥ—the splendor; tejasvinām—of the splendid; aham—I; jayaḥ—victory; asmi—I am; vyavasāyaḥ—firm resolve; asmi—I am; sattvam—virtue; sattva-vatām—of the virtuous; aham—I
Translation · English
I am the gambling of the deceitful; I am the splendor of the splendid; I am victory; I am the resolve of the resolute; I am the goodness of the good.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna continues his 'Vibhuti Yoga' by revealing that his presence is not confined to the holy or the ideal; he is the fundamental essence of all phenomena, whether they are considered virtuous or deceptive. By claiming to be the 'gambling of the cheats,' Krishna is not endorsing vice but asserting the Vedantic truth that the substrate of all experience, including the mechanism of chance or deceit, is ultimately grounded in the Divine. He is the underlying reality that enables the very act of deception to exist, reminding the seeker that no event or force in the universe exists independent of the Supreme Consciousness. Simultaneously, Krishna balances this by identifying himself with the highest expressions of human excellence—victory, firm resolve, and the essence of the virtuous. This juxtaposition is a profound pedagogical tool designed to collapse the dualities of the conditioned mind. By teaching Arjuna to see the Divine in both the strategy of the gambler and the conviction of the saint, Krishna invites the devotee to move beyond judging the world based on appearances and instead recognize the omnipresence of the Absolute. This is the transition from a fragmented perception of reality to a unified, non-dual vision where every manifestation is seen as a reflection of His infinite majesty.
Krishna reveals that the Divine is the hidden reality within both the lowest manifestations of human ingenuity and the highest expressions of moral character, challenging the devotee to perceive God as the non-dual essence of all existence.
Connected Verses
It highlights the distinction between the Field (the world of dualities) and the Knower of the Field, helping clarify why God is present in all conditions.
This verse serves as a summary, confirming that whatever is beautiful, glorious, or powerful is merely a spark of His infinite splendor.
This verse reinforces the all-encompassing nature of God, stating that He is the ritual, the sacrifice, and the herb, emphasizing His presence in everything.
Krishna declares himself to be the original seed and intelligence of all beings, mirroring the idea that he is the essence behind every quality.
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