An Excerpt from the Bhagavad Gītā

From the Bhagavad Gītā, translated by Juan Mascaro

I am the beginning and the middle and the end of all that is. Of all knowledge I am the knowledge of the Soul. Of the many paths of reason I am the one that leads to Truth.

Of sounds I am the first sound, A; of compounds I am co-ordination. I am time, never-ending time. I am the Creator who sees all.

I am death that carries off all things, and I am the source of things to come. Of feminine nouns I am Fame and Prosperity: Speech, Memory and Intelligence; Constancy and patient Forgiveness.

I am the Brihat songs of all songs in the Vedas, I am the Gayatri of all measures in verse. Of months I am the first of the year, and of the seasons the season of flowers.

I am the cleverness in the gambler’s dice. I am the beauty of all things beautiful. I am victory and struggle for victory. I am the goodness of those who are good.

Of the children of Vrishni I am Krishna; and of the sons of Pandu I am Arjuna. Among seers in silence I am Vyasa: and among poets the poet Usana.

I am the sceptre of the rulers of men; and I am the wise policy of those who seek victory. I am the silence of hidden mysteries; and I am the knowledge of those who know.

And know, Arjuna, that I am the seed of all things that are; and that no being that moves or moves not can ever be without me. There is no end of my divine greatness, Arjuna. What I have spoken here to thee shows only a small part of my Infinity. Know thou that whatever is beautiful and good, whatever has glory and power is only a portion of my own radiance.

But of what help is it to thee to know this diversity?

Know that with one single fraction of my Being I pervade and support the Universe, and know that I am.

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