Attaining salvation by devotional love
The doers of the rituals prescribed in the Vedas, the drinkers of the nectar of devotion, and whose sins are cleansed, worship Me by doing good deeds (Yajn) for gaining heaven. As a result of their meritorious deeds they go to heaven and enjoy celestial sense pleasures. (9.20) They return to the mortal world — after enjoying the wide world of heavenly pleasures — upon exhaustion of their good Karm (Punya).
Thus following the injunctions of the three Vedas, persons working for the fruit of their actions take repeated birth and death. (See also 8.25) (9.21) I personally take care of both the spiritual and material welfare of those ever-steadfast devotees who always remember and adore Me with single-minded contemplation. (9.22) O Arjun, even those devotees who worship the deities with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way; (9.23) because I – — the Supreme Being (ParBrahm) — alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (Seva, Yajn) and Lord of the universe. But people do not know My true, transcendental nature.
Therefore, they fall (into the repeated cycles of birth and death). (9.24) Worshippers of the deities go to the deities; worshippers of ancestors go to the ancestors, and worshippers of the ghosts go to the ghosts; but My devotees come to Me (and are not born again). (See also 8.16) (9.25)
The Lord accepts and eats the offering of love and devotion
Whosoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion, I accept and eat the offering of devotion by the purehearted. (9.26) O Arjun, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer as oblation to the sacred fire, whatever charity you give, whatever austerity you perform, do all that as an offering unto Me. (See also 12.10, 18.46) (9.27) You shall become free from the bondage — good and bad — of Karm by this attitude of complete renunciation (SamnyaasYog). Becoming liberated, you shall come to Me. (9.28)
There is no unforgivable sinner
The Self is present equally in all beings. There is no one hateful or dear to Me. But, those who worship Me with love and devotion are very close to Me, and I am also very close to them. (See also 7.18) (9.29) If even the most sinful person resolves to worship Me with single-minded, loving devotion, such a person must be regarded as a saint because of making the right resolution. (9.30) Such a person soon becomes righteous and attains everlasting peace. Be aware, O Arjun, that My devotee shall never perish or fall down. (9.31)
The path of devotional love is easier
Anybody — including women, merchants, laborers, and the evil-minded — can attain the supreme abode by just surrendering unto My will with loving devotion, O Arjun. (See also 18.66) (9.32) It should then be very easy for holy priests and devout royal sages to attain the Supreme Being. Therefore, having obtained this joyless and transitory human life, one should always worship Me with loving devotion. (9.33) Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and bow down to Me. Thus uniting yourself with Me by setting Me as the supreme goal and the sole refuge, you shall certainly come to Me. (9.34)
10. MANIFESTATION OF THE ABSOLUTE
The Supreme Lord said: O Arjun, listen once again to My supreme word that I shall speak to you, who are very dear to Me, for your welfare. (10.01)
God is the origin of everything
Neither the celestial controllers (Devas), nor the great sages know My origin, because I am the origin of all Devas and great sages also. (10.02) One who knows Me as the unborn, the beginningless, and the Supreme Lord of the universe, is considered wise among the mortals and becomes liberated from the bondage of Karm. (10.03) Discrimination, Selfknowledge, non-delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control over the mind and senses, tranquillity, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, calmness, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, ill fame — these diverse qualities in human beings arise from Me alone.
(10.04-05) The seven great sages, four Sanakas, and fourteen Manus from whom all the creatures of the world were born, originated from My potential energy. (10.06) One who truly understands My manifestations and yogic powers, is united with Me by unswerving devotion. There is no doubt about it. (10.07) I am the origin of all. Everything emanates from Me. Understanding this, the wise adore Me with love and devotion (10.08), remaining ever content and delighted. Their minds remain absorbed in Me and their lives surrendered unto Me. They always enlighten each other by talking about Me. (10.09)
God gives knowledge to His devotees
I give knowledge and understanding of metaphysical science — to those who are ever united with Me and lovingly adore Me — by which they come to Me. (10.10) I, who dwell within their inner psyche as consciousness, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of transcendental knowledge as an act of compassion for them. (10.11) Arjun said: You are the Supreme Being, the Supreme Abode, the Supreme Purifier, the Eternal Divine Being, the primal God, the unborn, and the omnipresent. All sages have thus acclaimed You. The divine sage Naarad, Asit, Deval, Vyaas, and You Yourself tell me that. (10.12-13)
Nobody can know the real nature of Reality
O Krishn, I believe all that You have told me to be true. O Lord, neither the celestial controllers (Devas) nor the demons fully understand Your real nature. (See also 4.06) (10.14) O Creator and Lord of all beings, God of all celestial rulers (Devas), Supreme person, and Lord of the universe, You alone know Yourself by Yourself.
(10.15) Therefore, You alone are able to fully describe Your own divine glories — the manifestations — by which You exist pervading all the universes. (10.16) How may I know You, O Lord, by constant contemplation? In what form of manifestation am I to think of You, O Lord? (10.17) O Lord, explain to me again, in detail, Your yogic power and glory, because I am not satiated by hearing Your nectar-like words. (10.18)
Everything is a manifestation of the Absolute
The Supreme Lord said: O Arjun, now I shall explain to you My prominent divine manifestations, because My manifestations are endless. (10.19) O Arjun, I am the Spirit (Atma) abiding in the inner psyche of all beings. I am also the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings. (10.20) I am the sustainer, I am the radiant sun among the luminaries, I am the supernatural controllers of wind, I am the moon among the stars.
(10.21) I am the Vedas, I am the celestial rulers (Devas), I am the mind among the senses, I am the consciousness in living beings. (10.22) I am Lord Shiva, I am the god of wealth, I am the god of fire, and the mountains. (10.23) I am the priest and the army general of the celestial controllers, O Arjun. I am the ocean among the bodies of water. (10.24) I am sage Bhrigu among the great sages; I am the monosyllable cosmic sound, AUM, among the words; I am the silent repetition of mantra (Japa) among the spiritual disciplines (Yajn); and I am the Himalaya among the mountains. (10.25)
A brief description of divine manifestations
I am the holy fig tree among the trees, Naarad among the sages, and all other celestial rulers. (10.26) Know Me as the celestial animals among the animals, and the King among men. I am the thunderbolt among weapons, and I am Cupid for procreation. (10.27-28) I am the water god and the manes. I am the controller of death. I was that great devotee of Mine, Prahlaad. I am the time or death among the healers, lion among the beasts, and the king of birds among birds.
(10.29-30) I am the wind among the purifiers, and Lord Raam among the warriors. I am the crocodile among the fishes, and the holy Gangaa river among the rivers. (10.31) I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all creation, O Arjun. Among the knowledge I am knowledge of the supreme Self. I am logic of the logician. (10.32) I am the letter “A” among the alphabets. I am the dual compound among the compound words. I am the endless time. I am the sustainer of all, and have faces on all sides (or I am omniscient). (10.33) I am the all-devouring death and also the origin of future beings.
I am the seven goddesses (Devis) or guardian angels presiding over the seven qualities — fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intellect, resolve, and forgiveness. (10.34) I am Brihatsaam among the Vedic hymns. I am Gaayatri mantra among the Vedic mantras. I am November-December among the months, I am the spring among the seasons. (10.35) I am gambling of the cheats, splendor of the splendid, victory of the victorious, resolution of the resolute, and goodness of the good.
(10.36) I am Vaasudev among the Vrishni family, Arjun among the Paandavs, Vyaas among the sages, and Ushanaa among the poets. (10.37) I am the power of rulers, the statesmanship of the seekers of victory, I am silence among the secrets, and the Self-knowledge of the knowledgeable. (10.38) I am the origin or seed of all beings, O Arjun.