10.42 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 10, Verse 42

In Bhagavad Gita verse 10.42, Lord Krishna concludes His discourse on divine manifestations with a powerful statement that brings perspective to all His previous explanations. After elaborately describing various manifestations of His glory throughout the universe, Krishna now simplifies everything for Arjuna with remarkable clarity.

Krishna essentially tells Arjuna that there's no need to get lost in the endless details of His divine manifestations. He says, "But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe." This statement serves as both a culmination and simplification of everything Krishna has been explaining about His divine opulences (vibhutis).

The verse's profound implication is that Krishna's glory is so vast and infinite that even after naming numerous manifestations, He has only scratched the surface. The examples He provided earlier—whether it was His presence as the consciousness in living beings, the brilliance in the sun, or the strength in the mighty—were merely glimpses of His boundless nature. All these manifestations, impressive as they are, represent just a tiny fraction of His total majesty.

The Sanskrit term "ekāṁśena" (with a single fragment) is particularly significant here. It indicates that the entire cosmic manifestation, with its billions of galaxies, countless stars, and innumerable living entities, is maintained by just a small portion of Krishna's energy. This reveals the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Lord. If a mere fragment can sustain the entire creation, one can only imagine the fullness of His complete being.

This verse also shifts our understanding from the specific manifestations to the all-pervading nature of the Supreme. Krishna uses the word "viṣṭabhya" (pervading and supporting), emphasizing that He doesn't just create the universe and leave it to function on its own—He actively maintains and sustains every aspect of it. His presence permeates everything, from the vastness of cosmic space to the minuteness of subatomic particles.

For Arjuna, this revelation serves as both humbling and reassuring. It's humbling to realize the unlimited nature of Krishna's power, but reassuring to know that this same unlimited power is personally concerned with him and his welfare. If Krishna can maintain the entire universe with just a fragment of Himself, surely He can guide Arjuna through his immediate crisis on the battlefield.

The verse elegantly brings closure to the chapter on divine manifestations by pointing beyond the specifics to the essence. Krishna essentially tells Arjuna: instead of trying to comprehend all My manifestations, which are infinite, understand this fundamental truth—I am the foundation of everything. This understanding simplifies Arjuna's spiritual journey. Rather than searching for divinity in countless different forms and places, he can focus on Krishna Himself, knowing that everything else is already included within Him.

In this way, verse 10.42 serves as a perfect transition from the detailed exposition of divine glories to the universal form revelation that follows in the next chapter. Krishna has prepared Arjuna with words; now He will show him directly how He pervades and supports the entire universe with just a fraction of His divine energy.