Chapter 10 · Vibhuti Yoga — The Yoga of Divine GloriesKrishna
Verse 38
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 10, श्लोक 38
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम्।
मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम्॥
Transliteration
Dando Damayatam-Asmi Nitir-Asmi Jigishatam.
Maunam Cha-Eva-Asmi Guhyanam Jnanam Jnanavatam-Aham.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
दण्डःdandahpunishment/rod of justice
दमयताम्damayatamof those who punish
नीतिःnitihmorality/statesmanship
जिगीषताम्jigishatamof those who seek victory
मौनम्maunamsilence
गुह्यानाम्guhyanamof secrets
ज्ञानम्jnanamknowledge
ज्ञानवताम्jnanavatamof the wise
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
दण्ड देने वालों में (न्यायकर्ताओं में) दण्ड हूँ, जीतने की इच्छा रखने वालों की नीति हूँ, गोपनीय बातों में मौन हूँ और ज्ञानियों का ज्ञान हूँ।
English Translation
Of punishers I am the rod of justice; of those who seek victory I am statesmanship; of secrets I am silence; and of the wise I am wisdom.
Commentary (टीका)
Justice (danda), strategy (niti), discretion (mauna), and wisdom (jnana) represent excellence in governance, statecraft, confidentiality, and intellectual pursuits. Silence as the keeper of secrets is a profound insight — it is not emptiness but the protector of the sacred. Wisdom as the essence of the wise shows that God is not just in the person but in the quality itself.