Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Verse 7.11
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्। धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ।।7.11।।
balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāma-rāga-vivarjitam dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣhabha
Word Meanings
balam—strength; bala-vatām—of the strong; cha—and; aham—I; kāma—desire; rāga—passion; vivarjitam—devoid of; dharma-aviruddhaḥ—not conflicting with dharma; bhūteṣhu—in all beings; kāmaḥ—sexual activity; asmi—(I) am; bharata-ṛiṣhabha—Arjun, the best of the Bharats
Translation · English
Of the strong, I am the strength devoid of desire and attachment, and in all beings, I am the desire in accordance with Dharma, O Arjuna.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna redefines the perception of power and desire, grounding them in the bedrock of Dharma. By identifying Himself as the strength of the strong that is devoid of selfish attachment, He shifts the focus from ego-driven force to 'Shakti'—the divine capacity to act in accordance with the cosmic order. Strength, when disconnected from divine alignment, becomes a tool of destruction; when harnessed by the Divine, it becomes a manifestation of pure, selfless purpose. This teaches the seeker that true potency is not the ability to dominate, but the capacity to sustain righteousness without the poison of personal agenda. Furthermore, Krishna acknowledges desire (kama) as a fundamental pulse of life, but sanctifies it by stripping away the blinding heat of raga (attachment). When desire is rooted in the fulfillment of duty rather than the gratification of the ego, it ceases to be a shackle of samsara and becomes an instrument of divine expression. This is the profound secret of living in the world without being of it: recognizing that every creative impulse is a divine spark, provided it does not violate the universal laws of balance. Arjuna, as a warrior, must learn that his strength and his desires are not obstacles to his spiritual path if they are surrendered to the Lord and aligned with the preservation of Dharma. Krishna invites the devotee to see the Divine not just in the stillness of meditation, but in the very energy that drives the living world, purified and redirected toward the ultimate Truth.
True strength and desire are manifestations of the Divine only when they are liberated from the ego's cravings and harmonized with the eternal laws of Dharma.
Connected Verses
Lists the divine qualities that align one with the path of liberation, contrasting with the destructive nature of ego-led desire.
Confirms that all things possessing power or glory are but a tiny fraction of the Lord's splendor.
Discusses the intricate nature of action, inaction, and the need to discern the path of righteousness.
Explains how wisdom is obscured by the insatiable fire of desire that acts as the constant enemy of the self.
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