[Among the many things you have spoken till now, can you clearly state what is the highest?] Again indeed Arjuna, hear my supreme words – I shall speak it to you, who are dear to me, with a desire for your welfare (1).

[What are these supreme words about?] It is about me – unknown is my origin to both the multitudes of gods and the great sages; I am certainly the origin of everyone, including both the gods and the sages (2).

[If you are so difficult to know, is it really necessary to know you?] Yes, for those who want to be liberated; those who come to know me as the birthless and beginningless Lord of the world stay undeluded even while being among mortals and eventually become released from all sins (3).

[How can one start knowing you?] By understanding that all the manifold states of being come ultimately from me alone, be they virtues: such as intelligence, knowledge, sobriety [freedom from delusion], patience, truthfulness, sense control, mind control, non-violence, equanimity and contentment; or dualities: such as pleasure-pain, manifestation-nonmanifestation, and fear-fearlessness (4-5).

[When the states of being come from you, where do beings themselves come from?] They too come from me; all the creatures that populate the world have come from the seven great sages of the past as well as the four Manus – and they both (the sages and Manus) have come from me, being born of my mind (6).

[What is the result of knowing all this about you?] Those who truly know this glory and power of mine become united with me by unwavering yoga – of this, there is no doubt (7).

[How does knowledge lead to such a union?] I am the origin of everything; everything proceeds from me – understanding this, the wise ones worship me with all their heart (8).

[How do they worship you wholeheartedly?] Their thoughts dwell in me; their entire life, indeed their very life-air, is absorbed in me; they enlighten each other about me and speak constantly about me – thereby, they are content; and therein, they rejoice (9).

[How do these activities lead them to liberation?] When they are thus steadfastly engaged in worshiping me with love, I give them the yoga of wisdom, by which they can come to me (10).

[Why do you give them such wisdom?] Because they are the objects of my mercy; dwelling within their hearts, I destroy the darkness born out of ignorance that may be present there – bringing forth the shining lamp of knowledge (11).

[After hearing all this, what is your understanding, Arjuna?] Arjuna said: You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the supreme purifier, the eternal divine person, the primal God, birthless and limitless (12).

[Are you flattering me by saying this?] No, not at all; this is how you are understood by all the sages, including the celestial sage Narada as well as Asita, Devala and Vyasa – and this is what you yourself have told me (13).

[Others may say these things to you, but do you yourself accept these statements?] Everything you have spoken to me, I accept it to be true [– including your statement that you are ultimately unknowable]; indeed, your personal manifestation, O Lord, is not knowable even to the gods, let alone the demons (14).

[Who, then, can know me?] You alone know yourself through yourself, O supreme person, Lord of all beings, source of everyone’s welfare, God of gods, master of the universe (15).

[How does understanding all this affect you?] It kindles within me a longing to know you; please describe without any reservation your divine self-manifestations by which you pervade all these worlds and even abide in them (16).

[Why do you want to know about these particular manifestations of mine?] Because I want to constantly think of you, as do your great devotees. How may I know you, O Yogi, in a way that I can be constantly meditating on you? In what all aspects of being should I think of you, O Blessed Lord? (17)

[As we are in the middle of a battlefield, with the war about to begin, do you want me to speak briefly?] No; explain to me in detail your power and manifestation again and again —  I am never satiated while hearing your nectar-like words (18).

[Will you speak about your manifestations in detail?] Listen! I shall explain to you my divine self-manifestations – only those that are prominent, for there is no end to my extent (19).

[How do you extend endlessly?] I am the Supreme Self, Arjuna, residing in all living beings; I am the beginning and the middle of beings, as well as the end (20).

[Can you list some of your specific manifestations?] Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu; among luminous objects, I am the radiant sun; I am Marichi among the Maruts; among heavenly bodies, I am the moon (21). Among the Vedas, I am the Sama Veda; among the gods, I am Vasava; among the senses, I am the mind; in living beings, I am consciousness (22). Among the Rudras, I am Shankara; I am Kuvera among the Yakshas and Rakshasas; among the Vasus, I am fire; among mountains, I am Meru (23). Among the household priests, know, Arjuna, me to be Brihaspati; among army commanders, I am Skanda; among water bodies, I am the ocean (24). Among the great sages, I am Bhrigu; among utterances, I am the single-syllable Om; among sacrifices, I am japa; among immovable objects, I am the Himalayas (25). Among all trees, I am the banyan tree; among the divine sages, I am Narada; among the Gandharvas, I am Chitraratha; among the beings with yogic perfections, I am the sage Kapila (26). Among horses, I am Ucchaishravas, born of nectar; among elephants, I am Airavata; among humans, I am the king (27). Among weapons, I am the thunderbolt; among cows, I am the wish-fulfilling cow; among causes of procreation, I am the god of love, Kandarpa; among serpents, I am Vasuki (28). Among hooded serpents, I am Ananta; among water creatures, I am Varuna; among ancestors, I am Aryaman; among the dispensers of law, I am Yama (29). Among Daityas, I am Prahlada; among subduers, I am time; among animals, I am the lion; among birds, I am Garuda (30). Among purifiers, I am the wind; among warriors, I am weapon-bearing Rama; among aquatics, I am Makara; among rivers, I am the Ganges (31). Among creations, I am the beginning, the middle and the end; among knowledge, I am spiritual knowledge; among debaters, I am logic (32). Among letters, I am the letter A; among compound words, I am the dual compound; I alone am inexhaustible time; I am the governing principle, facing in all directions (33). I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be; among the feminine qualities, I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience (34). Among hymns, I am the  Brihat-sama; among meters, I am Gayatri; among months, I am Margashirsha; among seasons, I am flower-bearing spring (35). I am the gambling among the dishonest; I am the splendor of the splendid; I am victory; I am adventure; I am the goodness of the good (36). Among the Vrishnis, I am Vasudeva; among the Pandavas, I am Arjuna; among sages, I am Vyasa; among poets, I am the poet Ushana (37). Among law-enforcers, I am punishment; among those seeking victory, I am morality; among secrets, I am silence; among the wise, I am wisdom (38).

[Is there a general principle that characterizes all such divine manifestations?] Yes; I am the seed of all existences; nothing, be it moving or nonmoving, could exist if it did not exist through me (39).

[How far do your divine manifestations extend?] Everywhere; there is no end to my divine manifestations, Arjuna – these have been declared by me merely as examples of my manifestations (40).

[Apart from your divine manifestations listed here, how can I know your other manifestations?] By inference – know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of my splendor (41).

[What is an outstanding example of your divine manifestation?] But what is [the need of] this extensive knowledge, Arjuna? I support this entire universe unceasingly with a single fraction of myself (42).