Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 10 - Shloka (Verse) 35

व्याख्या--'बृहत्साम तथा साम्नाम्'--सामवेदमें बृहत्साम नामक एक गीति है। इसके द्वारा इन्द्ररूप परमेश्वरकी स्तुति की गयी है। अतिरात्रयागमें यह एक पृष्ठस्तोत्र है। सामवेदमें सबसे श्रेष्ठ होनेसे इस बृहत्सामको भगवान्ने अपनी विभूति बताया है (टिप्पणी प0 564)।

तथा सामवेदके प्रकरणोंमें जो बृहत्साम नामक प्रधान प्रकरण है वह मैं हूँ। छन्दोंमें मैं गायत्री छन्द हूँ अर्थात् जो गायत्री आदि छन्दोबद्ध ऋचाएँ हैं उनमें गायत्री नामक ऋचा मैं हूँ। महीनोंमें मार्गशीर्ष नामक महीना और ऋतुओंमें बसन्त ऋतु मैं हूँ।

Having previously stated 'Among Vedas, I am the Sama Veda', He now mentions a specific distinction within that with 'Brihat'. Thinking that it is inappropriate to say 'Among meters, I am the meter named Gayatri' because meters do not have an existence independent of the verses (Riks), He clarifies with 'Gayatri etc.'. The meaning is: because it is the mother of the second birth of the twice-born.

The month in which the full moon is conjoined with the Mrigashirsha star is 'Margashirsha'; I am that month. He states 'masanam' (among months) implying it is the best because it is abundant with ripe crops.

'Vasanta' (Spring) is mentioned (as the best) due to its beauty.

Among Samas (specific songs), I am the 'Brihat-sama', which is a specific song based on the Rik verse 'tvam iddhi havamahe', praising Indra as the Lord of all, used as the Prishtha-stotra in the Atiratra sacrifice; I am this because of its superiority.

Among verses distinguished by meters having fixed syllables and feet, I am the 'Gayatri' Rik, because it is the cause of twice-born status.

Among months, I am 'Margashirsha' because it generates happiness by being rich in crops.

I am 'Kusumakara', the Spring, because it is beautiful as the producer of flowers.

'Brihat-sama' is the Sama sung on the verse 'tvam iddhi havamahe', employed in the Prishtha-stotra, and having Indra as its deity; I am that among the Samas.

Among meters, I am 'Gayatri', which is superior because it confers the status of the twice-born and because it brought the Soma.

'Kusumakara' is Spring.

Among Samas, I am the Brihat-sama.

Among meters, I am the Gayatri.

Among seasons, I am Kusumakara, the Spring.

Regarding 'Brihat-sama': It is the great song sung upon the verse 'tvam iddhi havamahe'; by it, Indra is praised as the Lord of all, thus its superiority is shown.

Among mantras distinguished by meters, I am Gayatri, due to its superiority in conferring twice-born status and in retrieving the Soma.

'Kusumakara' is Spring.

The superiority of Brihat-sama among Samas is established by the Sruti itself: 'Verily, in the beginning, there were Brihat and Rathantara; they were Speech and Mind. Speech was Rathantara and Mind was Brihat. That Brihat, created first, considered Rathantara inferior, and Rathantara bore a conception' (Mahanarayana Upanishad/Taittiriya Aranyaka).

The excellence of Gayatri, as the mother of meters, is elaborated in the Vedas and prosody texts. As stated in the Bahvricha Upanishad: 'Gayatri is indeed the foremost of meters.'

The superiority of Margashirsha among months is due to it being the time of the conception of rain, being the month of Keshava (the first among the twelve presiding deities of months), and being the time for commencing vows.

By the very word 'Kusumakara', the excellence of Spring, which is directly evident and the cause of happiness for all living beings, is implied. Its superiority is also established by injunctions like 'One should perform the Jyotishtoma sacrifice in every Spring' and 'Initiate a Brahmin in Spring, a Rajanya in Summer,' etc.

मैं सामों में बृहत्साम हूँ भगवान् ने पहले कहा था कि? वेदों में सामवेद मैं हूँ। अब यहाँ सामवेद में भी विशेषता बताते हैं कि मैं सामों में बृहत्साम हूँ। ऋग्वेद की जिन ऋचाओं को सामवेद में गाया जाता है? उन्हें साम कहते हैं। उनमें एक साम वह है? जिसमें इन्द्र की सर्वेश्वर के रूप में स्तुति की गई है? जिसे बृहत्साम कहते हैं? जिसका उल्लेख भगवान ने यहाँ किया है। साममन्त्रों का गायन विशिष्ट पद्धति का होने के कारण अत्यन्त कठिन है? जिन्हें सीखने के लिए वर्षों तक गुरु के पास रहकर साधना करनी पड़ती है।मैं छन्दों में गायत्री हूँ वेद मन्त्रों की रचना विविध छन्दों में की गई है। इन छन्दों में गायत्री छन्द मैं हूँ। जन्मत सभी मनुष्य संस्कारहीन होते हैं। हिन्दू धर्म में बालक का उपनयन संस्कार गायत्री मन्त्र के द्वारा ही होता है? जिसकी रचना गायत्री छन्द में है। अत इस छन्द को विशेष महत्व प्राप्त है। गायत्री में चौबीस अक्षर हैं और इस मन्त्र के द्वारा सविता देवता की उपासना की जाती है। ब्राह्मण लोग प्रातकाल और सांयकाल संध्यावन्दन के समय इस मन्त्रोच्चार के द्वारा सूर्य को अर्ध्य प्रदान करते हैं।विश्व के किसी भी धर्म में किसी एक मन्त्र का जप इतने अधिक भक्तों द्वारा निरन्तर इतने अधिक काल से नहीं किया गया है जितना कि गायत्री छन्द में बद्ध गायत्री मन्त्र का। यह मन्त्र अत्यन्त शक्तिशाली एवं प्रभावशाली माना जाता है।मैं मासों में मार्गशीर्ष हूँ अंग्रेजी महीनों के अनुसार दिसम्बर और जनवरी के भाग मार्गशीर्ष हैं। भारत में? इस मास को पवित्र माना गया है। जलवायु की दृष्टि से भी यह सुखप्रद होता है? क्योंकि इस मास में न वर्षा की आर्द्रता या सांद्रता होती है और न ग्रीष्म ऋतु की उष्णता।मैं ऋतुओं में बसन्त हूँ प्रकृति को सुस्मित करने वाली बसन्त ऋतु मैं हूँ। समस्त सृष्टि की दृश्यावलियों को अपने सतरंगी सन्देश और सुरभित संगीत से हर्ष विभोर करने वाला ऋतुराज पर्वत पुष्पों के परिधान पहनते हैं। भूमि हरितवसना होती है। सरोवर एवं जलाशय उत्फुल्ल कमलों की हंसी से खिलखिला उठते हैं। मैदानों में हरीतिमा के गलीचे बिछ जाते हैं। सभी हृदय किसी उत्सव की उमंग से परिपूर्ण हो जाते हैं। सृष्टि के हर्षातिरेक को राजतिलक करने के लिए चन्द्रिका स्वयं को और अधिक सावधानी से सँवारती है।मुझे न केवल भव्य और दिव्य में ही देखना है और न केवल सुन्दर और आकर्षक में? वरन् हीनतम से हीन में भी मुझे पहचानना है मैं हूँ? जो हूँ सुनो

This section covers from 'Hanta te kathayishyami' up to 'Jagatsthitah'. By the verse 'Ahamatma' (Verse 20), He wards off exclusion/separation. Otherwise, in sentences like 'Among immovables I am the Himalayas', the exclusion implying 'Only the Himalaya is God, nothing else' would cause the realization of Brahman to be fragmented due to a lack of indivisibility.

Since His undivided pervasiveness does not ascend into the mind as such, this instructional text is for one who wishes to know it.

Thus, in the conclusion, having stated the doctrine of difference-cum-non-difference with 'Yadyadvibhutimatsattvam' (Verse 41), He finally concludes with non-difference alone with 'Athava bahunaitena... vishtabhyahamidam... ekamshena jagatsthitah' (Verse 42).

It is indeed said: 'Pado'sya wishwa bhutani...' (RV 10.90.3).

The entire reality of God, the cause of the creation of beings, appearing in those various diverse forms, becomes the object of perception for all.

It was previously stated 'I am the Sama Veda among Vedas'; this is another specific detail. Among Samas—specific songs superimposed on the syllables of Riks—I am the 'Brihat-sama', a specific song on the verse 'tvam iddhi havamahe'. It is the Prishtha-stotra in the Atiratra sacrifice, praising Indra as the Lord of all; being superior to others, I am that.

Among meters—meaning Riks distinguished by meters having fixed syllables and feet—I am the 'Gayatri' Rik. This is because it is the cause of the second birth of the twice-born and pervades all three Savanas (morning libations, etc.). Also, (according to legend) when Jagati and Trishtubh went to fetch Soma, they did not get it and lost their syllables—Jagati lost three and Trishtubh lost one, totaling four. Gayatri is the best because she brought back Soma along with those lost syllables. The Shatapatha Shruti begins: 'In the beginning, meters were of four syllables. Then Jagati flew for Soma but returned having lost three syllables. Then Trishtubh flew for Soma but returned having lost one syllable. Then Gayatri flew for Soma; she returned bringing those syllables and the Soma. Therefore, Gayatri became eight-syllabled.' It concludes: 'They say all Savanas are Gayatri in nature...'. Also, the Chandogya Shruti says: 'Gayatri is indeed all this that has come into being.'

Among the twelve months, I am 'Margashirsha', which is a cause of happiness due to being rich in new rice, vastuka greens, etc., and devoid of extreme cold or heat.

Among the six seasons, I am 'Kusumakara' (Spring), the mine of all fragrant flowers and extremely beautiful. I am well-known in the scriptures through injunctions like: 'Initiate a Brahmin in Spring', 'A Brahmin should establish fires in Spring', 'Perform the Jyotishtoma sacrifice in every Spring', 'Spring is indeed the season of the Brahmin', etc.

Among Samas, meaning Sama verses, the 'Brihat-sama' is My divine glory; this is the meaning.

Among meters, 'Gayatri' is My divine glory.

Among months, I am 'Margashirsha'.

Among seasons, I am 'Kusumakara', the Spring.

And among the Samas, I am the principal one, the 'Brihat-sama'.

Among meters, I am 'Gayatri'; meaning, among the verses distinguished by meters like Gayatri, I am the 'Gayatri' Rik.

Among months, I am 'Margashirsha'.

Among seasons, I am 'Kusumakara', the Spring.

Regarding 'Brihat-sama': It is the Brihat-sama sung on the verse 'tvam iddhi havamahe' (Rig Veda 4.7.21.1); through it, Indra is praised as the Lord of all, thus its superiority is shown.

Among meters or Vedic mantras, 'Gayatri' is My divine glory, because it expounds My true nature and is to be meditated upon by the servants of God.

Among months, I am 'Margashirsha'; it is My glory because it is the time when the desires of the maidens (Gopis) were fulfilled and because it is suitable for enjoyment.

Among seasons, I am 'Kusumakara', the Spring; because it is praised in the Shruti 'One should establish fires in Spring', because it generates joy even in inert objects, and because it exists eternally in Vrindavan.

बृहत्साम Brihatsaman? तथा also? साम्नाम् among Sama hymns? गायत्री Gayatri? छन्दसाम् among metres? अहम् I? मासानाम् among months? मार्गशीर्षः Margasirsha? अहम् I? ऋतूनाम् among seasons? कुसुमाकरः the flowery season (spring).Commentary Brihatsaman is the chief of the hymns of the SamaVeda. Brihat means big.Margasirsha From the middle of December to the middle of January. This has a temperate climate. In olden days it was usual to start with this month in counting the months of the year. The first place was given to this month.Kusumakara The beautiful flowery season? the spring.

I am tatha, also; the Brhat-sama, the foremost samnam, of the Sama-mantras. Chandasam, of the metres, of the Rk-mantras having the metres Gayatri etc.; I am the Rk called Gayatri. This is meaning. Masanam, of the months, I am Marga-sirsa (Agrahayana, November-December). Rtunam, of the seasons; kusumakarah, spring.

Of Saman hymns, I am the Brhatsaman. Of meters, I am the Gayatri. Of seasons, I am the season of flowers (spring).