I am death that takes everything, and the source of all future beings. Among women, I am fame, fortune, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 10.34
Hindi · हिन्दी
सबका हरण करनेवाली मृत्यु और उत्पन्न होनेवालोंका उभ्दव मैं हूँ तथा स्त्रीजातिमें कीर्ति, श्री, वाक्, स्मृति, मेधा, धृति और क्षमा मैं हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
मृत्युःdeathसर्वहरःall-takingचandअहम्I amउद्भवःoriginचandभविष्यताम्of those yet to come) । कीर्तिः (fameश्रीःsplendour, fortuneवाक्speechचandनारीणाम्among womenस्मृतिःmemoryमेधाintelligenceधृतिःsteadfastnessक्षमाforgiveness
Read literallydeath · all-taking · and · I am · origin · and · of those yet to come) । कीर्तिः (fame · splendour, fortune · speech · and · among women · memory · intelligence · steadfastness · forgiveness
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from isolated events and traits to the larger source that holds them all.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Krishna says he is both the force that ends all lives and the source of all that is yet to come. He also shines as noble qualities in women: fame, beauty, speech, memory, intelligence, steadiness, and forgiveness.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Krishna keeps revealing where he can be seen in the world. After naming letters, time, and beginnings, he now points Arjuna to death, birth, and human excellence itself. The teaching widens from cosmic power to the qualities that make life dignified.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
At a hospital bedside, a family watches both an ending and a beginning at once. This verse helps you see that loss, birth, and every admirable human quality can all be held within one larger presence.
The takeaway
“Nothing precious is outside the divine presence, not even the qualities you admire in people.”
Krishna says he is both the force that ends all lives and the source of all that is yet to come. He also shines as noble qualities in women: fame, beauty, speech, memory, intelligence, steadiness, and forgiveness.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 10.34?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vibhuti Yoga" (The Yoga of Divine Glories).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 10.34?
Verse 34 sits in Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, "The Yoga of Divine Glories". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 10.34 matter today?
At a hospital bedside, a family watches both an ending and a beginning at once. This verse helps you see that loss, birth, and every admirable human quality can all be held within one larger presence.
It shifts attention from isolated events and traits to the larger source that holds them all.
What this verse means
Krishna says he is both the force that ends all lives and the source of all that is yet to come. He also shines as noble qualities in women: fame, beauty, speech, memory, intelligence, steadiness, and forgiveness.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Krishna keeps revealing where he can be seen in the world. After naming letters, time, and beginnings, he now points Arjuna to death, birth, and human excellence itself. The teaching widens from cosmic power to the qualities that make life dignified.
Why this verse still matters
At a hospital bedside, a family watches both an ending and a beginning at once. This verse helps you see that loss, birth, and every admirable human quality can all be held within one larger presence.
“Nothing precious is outside the divine presence, not even the qualities you admire in people.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti (43 verses)