GitaChapter 10Verse 31

Gita 10.31

Vibhuti Yoga

पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् । झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ॥

pavanaḥ pavatām asmi rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām aham | jhaṣāṇāṁ makaraś cāsmi srotasām asmi jāhnavī ||

In essence: The wind that purifies all it touches, the warrior who embodies dharma, the mysterious creature of the deep, and the sacred river that washes away sins - in these supreme purifiers, fighters, aquatic beings, and flowing waters, recognize the Divine in action.

A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply

Sadhak-Guru Dialogue

Sadhak: "Rama! Krishna claims to be Rama! But aren't they different avatars?"

Guru: "Different avatars of what?"

Sadhak: "Of Vishnu. Of... the same divine source."

Guru: "So is Krishna claiming something other than Himself?"

Sadhak: "No, I suppose He's claiming another form of the same consciousness. But it feels strange."

Guru: "You in childhood, you yesterday, you now - are these different beings or one consciousness in different forms?"

Sadhak: "One consciousness, different expressions."

Guru: "Krishna and Rama are like this - one divine consciousness in different avatars. But notice what quality of Rama is highlighted: 'shastra-bhritam' - weapon-wielders. Why is this significant?"

Sadhak: "Because Arjuna is about to fight. Rama is the model warrior."

Guru: "Exactly. Rama fought when dharma required it, maintained ethics in battle, showed that warfare can be sacred duty rather than mere violence."

Sadhak: "And the wind - how is wind a purifier?"

Guru: "Can anything stay impure when continuously exposed to moving air?"

Sadhak: "No, stagnant things become impure. Moving air eventually clears everything."

Guru: "The wind doesn't discriminate - it moves through palaces and slums alike, purifying both. This is divine function: universal, unceasing. And it's invisible - you can't see wind, only its effects. Like divine grace itself."

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🌅 Daily Practice

🌅 Morning

Pavana pranayama: Begin with conscious breath work. As you breathe, recognize breath as divine purifier - each inhale brings fresh prana, each exhale releases what needs releasing. Spend 5 minutes simply breathing with awareness. Set intention: 'Today, like the wind, I will move through situations bringing freshness without stagnating.'

☀️ Daytime

Rama dharma-yuddha: Throughout your day's challenges - conflicts, difficult decisions, confrontations - ask: 'How would Rama handle this?' Rama represents dharmic warfare: fighting only when necessary, with full skill but no cruelty. When you must 'fight' (argue, assert boundaries, compete), do so like Rama: effectively but righteously.

🌙 Evening

Ganga offering: Before sleep, visualize the Ganga flowing - sacred, purifying, constant in its journey to the sea. Mentally offer your day's impurities to this flow: mistakes, harsh words, impure thoughts. See them dissolving in the sacred current. Then imagine Ganga's blessing flowing back to you - cleansing, purifying, preparing you for tomorrow.

Common Questions

Why does Krishna identify with Rama when they're different avatars?
This actually clarifies avatar theology. Different avatars are not different gods but one divine consciousness appearing in different forms for different purposes. Krishna identifying with Rama demonstrates their essential unity. By specifically claiming Rama among warriors, Krishna provides Arjuna with the relevant model: Rama fought when dharma required it, showing that warfare can be sacred duty.
How is wind more purifying than other elements? Fire also purifies; water also cleanses.
Wind purifies through movement and renewal without destruction or dissolution. Wind brings fresh air to replace stale; wind carries away impurities; wind enables breath, the most constant purification we perform. You can avoid fire and water; you cannot avoid air. The wind's purification reaches everywhere, constantly, without exception.
What is Makara exactly? Is it a real creature or mythological?
Makara appears in Sanskrit literature as an aquatic creature variously depicted as crocodile, dolphin, shark, or mythical hybrid. Whether it corresponds to a specific biological species matters less than its symbolic function: supreme among aquatic creatures, guardian of thresholds (hence on temple gates), representing the mysterious depths. Divine presence exists even in oceanic depths.