Bhagavad Gītā Chapter 10, Verse 42: Krishna to Arjuna — Vibhūti-Yoga

Bhāṣyakāra purports

• Śaṅkaraadvaita

  Or what further use to you, Arjuna, is this elaborate enumeration of partial knowing? I sustain this entire universe by pervading and firmly upholding it through a single fragment of myself — a single pada (quarter), as the śruti declares: 'pādo'sya viśvā bhūtāni' (Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 3.12). The remainderless knowing is this alone: Brahman, of which all beings are but one quarter, while three quarters abide as the immortal in the beyond.

• Rāmānujaviśiṣṭādvaita

  What need is there for all this extended knowing? I abide, having upheld this entire universe — gross and subtle, in causal and effected states, conscious and inert — in such a way that neither its existence nor its activities ever exceed my saṃkalpa (sovereign will). And this upholding is by an infinitesimal fraction of my infinite power, as Parāśara declared: 'of one in whom this universal power rests as but a fraction of a fraction' (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 1.9.53).

• Madhvadvaita

  This question 'what use is further knowing?' is posed not to dismiss prior knowledge as fruitless but to signal what is supremely essential: one who does not know this Lord in his distinct, qualified fullness (savīśeṣa-yukta) — how can such a one be liberated from bondage? The specification 'for you, Arjuna' signals that you are worthy of this supreme fruit. The word 'kim' here signals excellence, not negation — as in the Vedic usage 'if passions exist, what use is austerity; if they are absent, what use is austerity?' Bhagavān's sovereignty pervades all: 'yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra' (BG 6.30).

• Vallabhaśuddhādvaita

  Thus, having enumerated the vibhūtis individually, the Lord now gathers the whole in a single conclusive statement. What use to you is all this detailed knowing? I, Puruṣottama, the supreme sovereign — by a single fragment of my imperishable (akṣara) majesty, in my adhyātma-form — uphold, pervade, govern, and sustain this entire universe of the conscious and the inert, in its subtle and manifest states. Know this as my yoga, my sovereign lordship. By saying 'a single fragment sustains all,' the Lord both removes the anxiety of infinite enumeration and reveals the true measure of his mahātmya.

• Śrīdharabhakti

  Or rather — what use to you is so much fragmentary, piecemeal knowing? Let this single insight suffice: I alone stand here having upheld and pervaded this entire universe through just one fragment, one portion of myself. There is nothing whatsoever apart from me — as the śruti confirms: 'pādo'sya viśvā bhūtāni.' Therefore, cultivate equanimity of vision everywhere, seeing the one Self in all.

• Madhusūdanaadvaita-bhakti

  Having thus enumerated the vibhūtis individually, the Lord now states the whole in summary. Or — on the other view — what use to you, Arjuna, is this residual, partial knowing? I alone stand here, having upheld and pervaded this entire universe through a single fragment, a single portion; nothing exists apart from me — as the śruti proclaims: 'pādo'sya viśvā bhūtāni, tripād asyāmṛtaṃ divi.' Therefore, abandon this fractured vision and cultivate everywhere the single seeing of me. My heart, having once tasted even a drop of honey falling from the lotus of your feet, reels intoxicated again and again.