X: 34

Chapter 10, Verse 34

“I am death which carries off all things,

Yet in the same moment,

I am the source of all yet to be born.

Among feminine qualities

I am glory, beauty, speech,

Memory, intelligence,

Loyalty, and forgiveness.”

Sri Aurobindo:

“He appears to us too in the universe as the universal spirit of destruction, who seems to create only to undo his creations in the end.  And yet his power of becoming never ceases from its workings, for the rebirth and force of new creation ever keeps pace with the force of death and destruction.”

Paramahansa Yogananda:

“All of nature possesses speech as an attribute of vibratory expression, evidenced in everything from the hum of atoms to the songs of birds and utterances of beasts…and, above all, in the articulations of humanity.  Through vibratory sound, all of nature communes with itself.  In its highest expression, speech (Vahk) is the repository of all knowledge, that vibratory intelligence through which the Vedas were divinely revealed to the Rishis, who in turn through their own voices conveyed the illumination to others.  It is incumbent on humanity, similarly, to use the God-given instrument of speech to do good and spread enlightenment.

Memory (Smriti) is the power of continuity of consciousness, nature’s way of connecting past with present.  The vibratory consciousness in a seed (though not self-conscious) ‘remembers’ how to grow a plant or a mighty tree from its evolutionary record or ‘memory.’  We are able to recall past experiences and thereby add to our growth and capabilities.  The liberated one can recall not only the accumulated experiences of the present life but of past incarnations as well, the legacy of the continuity of consciousness, and thereby draw upon a vast storehouse of knowledge and achievements.

Intelligence (Medha) as an attribute of nature is the discerning, manifested intelligence of the supreme intelligence, spirit.  It is that which maintains order and harmony in the universe and in humanity.  Through the use of mental power and discerning intelligence, the deluded, ignorant person acquires wisdom.

The deeper significance of this verse is that these glorious attributes of the cosmic mother displayed throughout the universe may be consciously tapped in meditation.  As the Yogi’s life and consciousness ascend through the subtle cerebrospinal centers, awakening and unlocking their mysteries, the effulgence of the attributes [seven are listed, corresponding to the seven Chakras] illumine the whole being and bestow their grandest treasures according to one’s inmost heart’s desire.”

Sri Eknath Easwaran:

“Sri Ramakrishna used to say frequently that we should look on all women as the embodiment of the divine mother.  What he meant is that the qualities that make for a complete woman are the qualities which make for a deeply spiritual person.  This is the sense of Krishna’s reference to ‘feminine qualities’ in this verse.   In the integrated person, man or woman, there is a part that is masculine and a part that is feminine.  Each is complemented by the other.  In the Hindu tradition this is represented by a glorious image called Ardhanarishvara, an androgynous figure.

Beauty is not about superficial attractiveness; it refers to the inner radiance that shines in the eyes of those who are selfless.  My Granny was not given to praising people easily.  She always took a deep interest in the women who married into our ancestral family because of the ancient matriarchal lineage.  Sometimes she would say of a bride, ‘That girl has Sri (beauty) in her face.’  No one could have asked for higher praise.

Loyalty (Dhriti) is a precious quality that we have almost lost sight of today.  In relationships, especially where sex is concerned, loyalty is often considered old-fashioned and even unrealistic.  Yet without loyalty, it is simply not possible to love.  Loving somebody means that even when they trouble you, you don’t let yourself be shaken.  All of us are so liable to human error that unless we have some capacity to bear with the errors of others, we will not be able to maintain lasting relationships.  Learning to love takes a lot of hard work.  You open Pandora’s box expecting a lot of doves and out come some bats instead.  The doves are in there, lying low.  Clear away the bats first.

To do this we need Kshama…forgiveness, patience, and the capacity to forbear.  Poets like to write about love, popular singers like to glorify love, but few sing the praises of patience.  Yet in order to love others, tremendous patience is required.  In a situation in which there is friction and things seem to be going badly, don’t move away; move closer.”