akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi
dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca
aham evākṣayaḥ kālo
dhātāhaḿ viśvato-mukhaḥ

Translation

Of letters I am the letter A, and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahma.

mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham
udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām
kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāḿ
smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

Translation

I am all-devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.

b?hat-sama tatha samna?
gayatri chandasam aham
masana? marga-sir?o ’ham
?tuna? kusumakara?

Translation

Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brihat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.

dyūtaḿ chalayatām asmi
tejas tejasvinām aham
jayo ’smi vyavasāyo ’smi
sattvaḿ sattvavatām aham

Translation

I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong.

vṛṣṇīnāḿ vāsudevo ’smi
pāṇḍavānāḿ dhanañ-jayaḥ
munīnām apy ahaḿ vyāsaḥ
kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ

Translation

Of the descendants of Vrishni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana.

daṇḍo damayatām asmi
nītir asmi jigīṣatām
maunaṁ caivāsmi guhyānāṁ
jñānaṁ jñānavatām aham

Translation

Among all means of suppressing lawlessness I am punishment, and of those who seek victory I am morality. Of secret things I am silence, and of the wise I am the wisdom.

yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāḿ
bījaḿ tad aham arjuna
na tad asti vinā yat syān
mayā bhūtaḿ carācaram

Translation

Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being—moving or nonmoving—that can exist without Me.

nānto ’sti mama divyānāḿ
vibhūtīnāḿ paran-tapa
eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto
vibhūter vistaro mayā

Translation

O mighty conqueror of enemies, there is no end to My divine manifestations. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite opulences.

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaḿ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaḿ
mama tejo-’ḿśa-sambhavam

Translation

Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

atha vā bahunaitena
kiḿ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaḿ kṛtsnam
ekāḿśena sthito jagat

Translation

But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.