Gita 10.5
Vibhuti Yoga
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः | भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः ||५||
ahiṁsā samatā tuṣṭis tapo dānaṁ yaśo 'yaśaḥ | bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṁ matta eva pṛthag-vidhāḥ ||5||
In essence: Every noble quality and every passing condition - honor and dishonor alike - are waves arising from the single Ocean of divine being.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Fame and infamy from the same Source? I've worked hard to build a good reputation. Are you saying that was meaningless?"
Guru: "What happens to your peace when reputation is threatened?"
Sadhak: "I become anxious, defensive. I've noticed this."
Guru: "And what would happen to that anxiety if you truly understood that both yasha and ayasha flow from the Divine?"
Sadhak: "I suppose... neither would have such power over me. But isn't reputation important? Shouldn't I care about it?"
Guru: "Notice the verse doesn't say 'stop pursuing excellence.' It says fame and infamy both come from God. Does that mean pursuing dharmic action or abandoning it?"
Sadhak: "Pursuing dharma... but without being attached to whether it brings fame or infamy?"
Guru: "Exactly. Act rightly because it's right, because the capacity for right action (ahimsa, dana, tapa) comes from the Divine. Let the results - fame or infamy - also be divine play. When both outcomes are His, which one can trap you?"
Sadhak: "Neither. The trap was thinking reputation defines me. If both come from Him and return to Him, I'm just a temporary site where these divine qualities express."
Guru: "Now you understand 'bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṁ matta eva' - all states of beings arise from Me alone. You are not the creator of your virtues or the victim of your hardships. You are the space through which divine bhāvas flow."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Qualities-as-gifts practice: Choose three qualities from the list (perhaps ahimsa, samata, tushti - non-violence, equanimity, contentment). For each, say: 'The capacity for ahimsa in me is Your gift. May I express it today.' Then: 'The capacity for equanimity is Your gift. May I embody it today.' Then: 'The capacity for contentment is Your gift. May I rest in it today.' This starts the day with humility (not claiming the qualities as self-created) and intention (aspiring to express them).
Recognition in others: When you encounter someone expressing a quality from this list - whether positive (ahimsa, dana) or negative (ayasha) - recognize: 'This is divine bhāva expressing through them, just as my states express through me.' This prevents judgment: why judge someone for expressing what comes from the same Source as your own qualities? It creates compassion and recognition of shared divine origin. Try this three times today.
Equanimity review: Before sleep, review the day's 'yasha and ayasha' - moments of recognition/praise and moments of criticism/failure. For each, note: 'This came from the Divine. I experienced it; I am not defined by it.' Feel the equanimity that comes when both honor and dishonor are recognized as temporary divine states flowing through you. Rest knowing tomorrow will bring more bhāvas, all from the same Source, none able to touch your essential nature.