Shloka 26

Vibhuti Yoga — Vibhuti Yoga

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः । गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः ॥ १०.२६ ॥

Transliteration

aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṃ devarṣīṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ | gandharvāṇāṃ citrarathaḥ siddhānāṃ kapilo muniḥ || 10.26 ||

Translation

Among all trees I am the Aśvattha (sacred fig); among divine sages I am Nārada. Among Gandharvas I am Citraratha; among the perfected ones I am the sage Kapila.

Gita Press Meaning

Among all trees I am the Ashvattha (sacred fig); among divine sages I am Narada; among Gandharvas I am Chitraratha; among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.

Critical Edition Meaning

Of all trees I am the aśvattha; of divine seers I am Nārada; of Gandharvas I am Citraratha; of Siddhas I am the sage Kapila.

Comparative Note

Kapila is traditionally associated with Sāṅkhya; interpreters sometimes read this as acknowledging philosophical lineages within the Gītā’s synthesis. The aśvattha is culturally prominent as a sacred tree; later in 15.1 it gains additional symbolic elaboration.

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थः: the aśvattha (sacred fig tree)
• अश्वत्थः: Karta
• Root: अश्वत्थ

• सर्ववृक्षाणाम्: of all trees
• Root: सर्व-वृक्ष

• देवर्षीणाम्: of the divine sages
• Root: देव-ऋषि

• च: and
• Root: च

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta
• Root: नारद

• गन्धर्वाणाम्: of the Gandharvas (celestial musicians)
• Root: गन्धर्व

• चित्ररथः: Citraratha
• चित्ररथः: Karta
• Root: चित्ररथ

• सिद्धानाम्: of the Siddhas (perfected beings)
• Root: सिद्ध

• कपिलः: Kapila
• कपिलः: Karta
• Root: कपिल

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta
• Root: मुनि

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Sacred nature symbols
• Rishi traditions
• Sāṅkhya resonance

Key Themes

• Cultural archetypes
• Spiritual attainment (siddha)
• Intertextuality with later chapters

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Archetypal exemplars (sage, celestial musician, sacred tree) can function as mnemonic anchors for values like wisdom, devotion, and refinement.

Metaphysical meaning?

The divine is indicated through paradigmatic beings and symbols that represent life, knowledge transmission, and accomplished discipline.

Contextual relevance?

The verse situates the teaching within a shared mythic-cosmological world, making philosophical claims intelligible through familiar figures.

Modern Application?

Encourages learning through exemplars—studying ‘best instances’ of creativity, wisdom, and discipline as mirrors for self-cultivation.