Gita 10.23
Vibhuti Yoga
रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् | वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ||
rudrāṇāṁ śaṅkaraś cāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām | vasūnāṁ pāvakaś cāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇām aham ||
In essence: Krishna claims the auspicious transforming principle: Shankara who destroys to renew, fire that purifies, Kubera who channels wealth, and Meru the cosmic axis.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Shankara means Shiva, right? But I thought Krishna and Shiva were different gods. How can Krishna be Shiva?"
Guru: "When a wave says 'I am the ocean,' is it claiming to be another wave?"
Sadhak: "No - it's claiming its ultimate nature."
Guru: "Krishna isn't saying He's personally identical to the deity Shiva. He's saying: among the Rudras (of which Shiva is chief), the principle of auspicious transformation that Shiva represents - that is My vibhūti. The ocean speaks through all waves; the Divine speaks through all gods. When the Gita says 'I am Shankara among Rudras,' it means: wherever you see destruction that serves renewal, dissolution that enables evolution - there see My manifestation. Shiva-devotees and Krishna-devotees worship the same ultimate Reality through different forms."
Sadhak: "And Kubera among Yakshas and Rakshasas - why include these somewhat dark beings?"
Guru: "Where do you think wealth comes from?"
Sadhak: "From... effort, luck, inheritance, sometimes exploitation."
Guru: "And is the energy that accumulates wealth inherently good or evil?"
Sadhak: "Neutral, I suppose. It depends on how it's used."
Guru: "Exactly. The Yakshas and Rakshasas represent forces that can be greedy, possessive, chaotic. But among these forces, Kubera represents the principle of proper guardianship - wealth managed for dharmic purposes. Krishna claims this vibhūti: among potentially dangerous economic energies, the divine manifestation is responsible stewardship. Your relationship with money becomes spiritual when you become like Kubera - not owner but guardian, not hoarder but steward of resources that ultimately belong to the cosmos."
Sadhak: "And why Mount Meru specifically among mountains?"
Guru: "What is Meru's cosmological function?"
Sadhak: "It's the central axis - everything revolves around it."
Guru: "The unmoving center around which all movement occurs. You need such a center in your own being - the stable witness around which thoughts, emotions, circumstances revolve. When Krishna says 'I am Meru among mountains,' He points to this principle of unshakeable stability. Outer life will peak and valley; within, one point remains unmoved. That unmoving point is vibhūti. Find your inner Meru."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Fire-purification intention: As you start your day (perhaps lighting a lamp or candle, or simply visualizing flame), set intention: 'May the fire principle burn away impurity in thought, speech, and action today.' This invokes the pāvaka vibhūti - not asking for literal burning but for the transformative energy that elevates crude matter to refined essence. What in you needs purification today?
Kubera-stewardship practice: With every financial transaction today - paying for something, receiving money, making decisions about resources - think: 'I am guardian, not owner.' Channel Kubera: manage wealth responsibly, for purposes beyond personal accumulation. Notice how this shifts your relationship with money from possession to stewardship.
Meru-stability meditation: Before sleep, visualize yourself as Mount Meru - the stable axis around which daily chaos revolved. The day had peaks and valleys, but YOU remained the unmoved center. Rest in that stability. Let thoughts about the day's events orbit around your stable awareness without disturbing it. This is finding your inner Meru - the vibhūti of unchanging centeredness.