Sri Krishna: The epitome of absolute glory and greatness

Sri Krishna: The epitome of absolute glory and greatness

All traditions assert that God is great. Lord Sri Krishna graphically demonstrates that Greatness. In the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krishna gives Arjuna a glimpse of His awe-inspiring greatness by displaying His Universal Form (Vishva Roopa) – one of the greatest mystical visions in world literature. Arjuna saw within His Universal Form everything and everyone in existence. He saw all the planets, stars, and universes as well as all living beings, whether celestial, terrestrial, or subterranean. Sanjaya describes that vision thus:

“If there be the effulgence of a thousand suns bursting forth all at once in the sky, even that would hardly approach the splendor of the mighty Lord. (Gita 11:12). This is the Great Transfiguration of Krishna, an exact picture of the Rig Veda: “If, O God! A hundred heavens and a hundred earths were Thine; Nay, not even a thousand suns could match Thee.”

A life of glory

One important lesson of our scriptures is their call to a Life of Glory. There are many passages in the Vedas in which the Rishi prays for greatness. “O Lord, make me lustrous.” “May I be the most glorious.” The Bhagavad-gita has a whole chapter – Vibhuti Yoga – in which Sri Krishna exalts the best or most outstanding specimen in each class of beings by identifying Himself with it. For example, He says:“Among immovables, I am the Himalaya; among rivers, I am the Ganga; among trees, the holy fig; among cows, the divine cow of plenty (Kamadhenu); among sages, Vyasa; among heavenly songsters, Chitraratha; among generals, Skanda; among rulers, Yama; among celestial sages, Narada; among warriors, Rama; among men, the King. I am the glory of the glorious, the victory of the victorious, the goodness of the good-natured. I am Life in all beings and austerity in ascetics. I alone am the beginning, middle and also the end of all beings. I am Vishnu. I am Shiva. Among words, I am Om.”

A mantra in the Rg. Veda says:“Brahma among gods, Leader of poets, the Sage among the wise, Buffalo among wild animals, Falcon among vultures, Svadhiti tree in the forest, Soma among the cleansing sieve.” (Rg. Veda IX. 96:6)

According to the Veda, God represents for each kind of creature the most sublime, powerful and exalted. Sri Krishna proclaims Himself as the Perfection, Most Exalted among every species. He goes on in identifying and proclaiming Himself as the Chief Controller and Supreme Power behind every object in a manner corresponding in every way with the Vedic proclamation.

Sri Krishna summed up the general principle of Vibhuti Yoga in these words:“I am Vishnu among the Adityas, the glorious sun among the radiances; Marichi of the Maruts; the moon among asterisms.  (Gita 10. 21)“Whatever you see as beautiful, glorious, or powerful, know it to spring from but a spark of My splendor.” (10:41) “Whatsoever being is glorious, good, prosperous or powerful, understand that to be from a fragment of My Splendour.” (10:42).

While all things are supported by God, things of beauty and splendor reveal Him more than others. Every deed of heroism, every life of sacrifice, every work of genius, is a revelation of the Divine.

A Call to Excellence

In this way, Sri Krishna has commended the celebrities in all walks of life. This is the Gospel of super-excellence – a clarion call to all aspirants to acquire greatness and glory by their golden deeds.

“Therefore, stand up! Win for thyself renown! Conquer thy foes! Enjoy the wealth-filled realm! By Me have they been already slain. You be merely an outward cause.” (11:33).

Modern thinkers have made a strong plea for the cultivation of super excellence. There is an inner feeling of fulfillment in doing something superlatively well, because we seem to be made for expressing excellence. Excellence implies more than competence. It implies a striving for the highest standards in every phase of life. We need individual excellence in all its forms, in every kind of creative endeavour, in political life, in education, in industry – in short, universally!

(Pandit Ramdial Balbadar is a prominent Aachaarya (Teacher) of Hinduism in Guyana. He is the compiler and author of many titles and has over 30 years experience in Pandits’ Training across Guyana. He is currently the President of the Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha, Region 3).