Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 10 - Shloka (Verse) 24

व्याख्या--'पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम्'--संसारके सम्पूर्ण पुरोहितोंमें और विद्या-बुद्धिमें बृहस्पति श्रेष्ठ हैं। ये इन्द्रके गुरु तथा देवताओंके कुलपुरोहित हैं। इसलिये भगवान्ने अर्जुनसे बृहस्पतिको अपनी विभूति जानने-(मानने-) के लिये कहा है।

हे पार्थ पुरोहितोंमें यानी राजपुरोहितोंमें तू मुझे प्रधान पुरोहित बृहस्पति समझ क्योंकि वे ही इन्द्रके मुख्य पुरोहित हैं। सेनापतियोंमें मैं देवोंका सेनापति कार्तिकेय हूँ तथा सरोवरोंमें अर्थात् जो देवनिर्मित सरोवर हैं उनमें समुद्र हूँ।

He states the reason for Brihaspati's preeminence among priests—with 'Sa hi' etc.

'Purodhasam'—Among royal priests, know Me as the chief priest Brihaspati, because he is Indra's priest.

Indicating that 'as you are chief among Parthas', He says 'Partha'.

Among 'Senaninam'—generals—I am Kartikeya, the general of the divine army.

Among 'Sarasam'—natural reservoirs (dug by gods)—I am the Ocean.

'Purodhasam'—Among priests (know Me as) Brihaspati, because he is the priest of the King of Gods.

'Senaninam'—Among generals, Skanda—Kartikeya.

'Sarasam'—Among reservoirs.

Among priests, he who is the excellent Brihaspati, that I am.

Among generals, I am Skanda.

Among lakes/reservoirs, I am the Ocean.

'Purodhasam' etc. Among priests, know Me as the chief Brihaspati because of being the priest of gods.

Among generals, I am the divine general Skanda.

Among static reservoirs ('Sarasam'), I am the Ocean.

By the name 'Brihaspati', the excellence as 'Lord of the Great' (Brihatam Patih) is established; for he is the Lord of Speech (Giram Patih).

By the word 'Senani', generals subject to karma are included here.

Skanda has the excellence of being the general of the gods.

Since by the word 'Saras' (lake), only stationary reservoirs of water distinct from flowing streams are intended, the Ocean is included (as the chief among them); for flowing streams (Srotas) will be mentioned separately (10.31).

मैं पुरोहितों में बृहस्पति हूँ गुरु ग्रह के अधिष्ठाता बृहस्पति को ऋग्वेद में ब्रह्मणस्पति कहा गया है? जो स्वर्ग के अन्य देवों में उनके पद को स्वत स्पष्ट कर देता है। देवताओं के वे आध्यात्मिक गुरु माने जाते हैं।मैं सेनापतियों में स्कन्द हूँ स्कन्द को ही कार्तिक स्वामी के नाम से जाना जाता है? जो भगवान् शिव के पुत्र हैं। उनका वाहन मयूर है तथा हाथ में वे भाला (बरछा) धारण किये रहते हैं।मैं जलाशयों में सागर हूँ इन समस्त उदाहरणों में एक बात स्पष्ट होती है कि भगवान् न केवल स्वयं के समष्टि या सर्वातीत रूप को ही बता रहे हैं? वरन् अपने व्यष्टि या वस्तु व्यापक स्वरूप को भी। विशेषत? इस श्लोक में निर्दिष्ट उदाहरण देखिये। निसन्देह ही? गंगाजल का समुद्र के जल से कोई संबंध प्रतीत नहीं होता। यमुना? गोदावरी? नर्मदा? सिन्धु या कावेरी? नील? टेम्स या अमेजन जगत् के विभिन्न सरोवरों का जल? ग्रामों के तालाबों का जल और सिंचाई नहरों का जल? व्यक्तिगत रूप से? स्वतन्त्र हैं? जिनका उस समुद्र से कोई संबंध नहीं है? जो जगत् को आलिंगन बद्ध किये हुए हैं। और फिर भी? यह एक सुविदित तथ्य हैं कि इस विशाल समुद्र के बिना ये समस्त नदियाँ तथा जलाशय बहुत पहले ही सूख गये होते। इसी प्रकार चर प्राणी और अचर वस्तुओं का अपना स्वतन्त्र अस्तित्व प्रतीत होता है? जिसका सत्य के असीम समुद्र से सतही दृष्टि से कोई संबंध प्रतीत न हो? किन्तु भगवान् सूचित करते हैं कि इस सत्य के बिना यह दृश्य जगत् बहुत पहले ही अपने अस्तित्व को मिटा चुका होता।इसी विचार का विस्तार करते हुए कहते हैं

‘Well, I shall tell you’ (Hanta te kathayiṣyāmi) etc., up to 'the universe is established' (jagat sthitaḥ). By (the statement) 'I am the Self' (Aham ātmā) (Verse 20), He prevents differentiation/exclusion.

Otherwise, in statements like 'Among the immovable (sthāvara), I am the Himalaya,' would not the perception of Brahman have been fragmented due to the lack of non-differentiation (indivisibility), through the exclusion that the Himalaya alone is the Lord, and not others?

This text of instruction is for him who desires to know that indivisible pervasive presence (vyāpti) which does not thus rise in the consciousness (of everyone).

For example, in the conclusion, having stated the doctrine of difference and non-difference (bhedābheda-vāda) through the statement 'Whatever being is endowed with glory' (Verse 41), He then concludes with non-difference alone, or with (the verse beginning) 'But what need is there for this great detail? Sustaining this whole universe with a single fraction (of Myself), I remain established' (Verse 42).

As it has been said: "A quarter of Him are all beings; three quarters of Him are the Immortal in Heaven." (Rigveda X. 90. 3). The cause of the creation of beings—all this is merely the essence of the Lord (Bhagavattattva), which, being contemplated in various wonderful forms, becomes the object of all.

Since Indra is the best of all kings, know his priest Brihaspati—the chief, the best among all priests (royal priests)—to be Me alone, O Partha!

Among generals, I am the divine general Skanda (Guha).

Among 'Sarasam'—natural reservoirs—I am the Ocean, the reservoir dug by the sons of Sagara.

O Partha! Know Me as the chief among priests, Brihaspati. By the address 'Partha', (He implies) 'I bestow grace on you due to connection with Pritha (Kunti)'. Also, although priesthood is criticized, I reside in him through divine rites in the form of power of intellect etc.; therefore know him as My form—this is implied.

Among generals, I am Skanda due to being the general of the divine army.

Among 'Sarasam'—stationary waters full of rasa (water/essence)—I am the Ocean, the mine of gems.

'Purodhasam'—Among royal priests, know Me as the 'Mukhyam'—chief, Brihaspati, O Partha. For he is Indra's, hence he is the chief priest.

Among 'Senaninam'—generals—I am Skanda, the divine general.

Among 'Sarasam'—those lakes which are divinely dug (natural)—of those reservoirs, I am the Ocean.

'Purodhasam' etc.

Among 'Sarasam'—stationary reservoirs—(I am) the Ocean.

पुरोधसाम् among the household priests? च and? मुख्यम् the chief? माम् Me? विद्धि know? पार्थ O Partha? बृहस्पतिम् Brihaspati? सेनानीनाम् among generals? अहम् I? स्कन्दः Skanda? सरसाम् among lakes? अस्मि (I) am? सागरः the ocean.Commentary Brihaspati is the chif priest of the gods. He is the househld priest of Indra.Skanda is Kartikeya or Lord Subramanya. He is the general of the hosts of the gods.Of things holding water -- natural reservoirs or lakes -- I am the ocean.

O son of Prtha viddhi, know; mam, Me; to be Brahaspati, mukhyam, the foremost; purodhasam, among the priests of kings. Being as he is the priest of Indra, he should be the foremost. Senaninam, among ?ners of armies; I am Skanda, the ?nder of the armies of gods. Sarasam, among large expanses of water, among reservoirs dug by gods (i.e. among nature reservoirs); I am sagarah, the sea.

I am that Bhraspati who is paramount among family priests. Of generals, I am Skanda. Of reservoirs of waters, O am the ocean.