In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna declares that everything attractive emanates from a spark of his own splendor (10.41). This declaration comes at the conclusion of a list of various cosmic and terrestrial glorious manifestations that are said to be Krishna in the sense of being his opulences (vibhutis).

Is Krishna being egoistic in making statements like this? No, because he is speaking these glories only in response to Arjuna’s explicit request (10.16-17) and for helping Arjuna in his duty of establishing dharma, social and spiritual order. Let’s see how.

An egoist speaks their own glories even when they don’t need to and are not asked to. In the Gita’s context, Krishna has spoken nine chapters till now and during his speech, he has focused primarily on guiding Arjuna to choose his course of action wisely; he has mentioned his position only when it helped in guiding Arjuna. 

How does Krishna’s speaking his glories help Arjuna? The essence of Krishna’s guidance to Arjuna is that he could fight externally without being attached to materialistic motives like greed for a kingdom. He could avoid such attachment by acting at various levels such as becoming spiritually self-aware and becoming devotionally attached to the ultimate spiritual reality. When he thus worked for a higher cause, he wouldn’t be implicated by his actions because he would not be selfishly motivated. 

In the tenth chapter, Arjuna raises an implicit question: how can he remember Krishna in the hurly-burly of the world and especially in the danger-disaster of war? To answer Arjuna’s question, Krishna explains how he doesn’t exist solely as a person residing in the spiritual world; he also exists as the sustainer of the material world and as the One whose opulence is the source of the opulence of all opulent things in this world. 

One-sentence summary: 

Krishna speaks his glories not because he is an egoist but because he wants to equip Arjuna with resources for cultivating devotional remembrance in all situations. 

Think it over:

  • Why does Krishna speak his glories?
  • Before Arjuna’s explicit question seeking to know Krishna’s glories, when does Krishna mention those glories?
  • How is Krishna’s speaking his glories not a sign of ego? 

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10.41: Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

Why does Krishna speak his own glories?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image