Chapter 10 Shloka 36
द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम्।
जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम्।।३६।।
Little one, now see what the Lord says!
Amongst the vices, I am the vice of gambling; I am the glory of the glorious; I am victory; I am resolve; and I am the sattvic attitude amongst those in whom the sattvic attributes predominate.
A. The Lord says, of all vices, I am the vice of gambling.
Little one, the Lord is all that exists. He says that He is all that is happening in the universe. Good and bad are both included in that totality.
1. The Lord has said earlier, that men of wisdom view the Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a low caste Chandaal impartially. (Chp.4, shloka 18)
2. He has also stated that after several lifetimes, the man of wisdom worships Me with the knowledge that ‘All is Vaasudeva.’ (Chp.7, shloka 19)
3. He then says, “I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.” (Chp.10, shloka 20)
Little one, mankind in its entirety includes both the virtuous and the evil. One can either say that the Lord inheres only in virtuous beings, or one can view this entirety as pervaded by the Lord. Either all three attributes – tamas, rajas and sattva, belong to Him, or He abides only in the attribute of sattva. In reality, one cannot limit the Lord. He is this Whole. Viewed in this manner, one will be able to understand His statement that He is the vice of gambling.
B. “I am the glory of the glorious.”
1. Thus He is the effulgence of the exalted beings.
2. He is the Light that emanates from distinguished souls.
3. He is the inner strength that inheres elevated souls.
C. “I am the victory of the victorious.”
Therefore all victory, no matter who wins, must be attributed to the Lord.
D. “I am the resolve of the resolute.”
The Lord Himself is the resolve of all beings, regardless what that resolve is.
E. “I am the attribute of sattva amongst those in whom this attribute predominates.”
Little one, the Lord is giving the practicant training in the thought: “Whatever is, is Vaasudeva alone.” Thus shall his attitude towards the entire world become worshipful. It will then become easy to live in the world free of excessive attachments and hatred and to realise that one is merely a puppet created by the Lord Himself. Little one, such a one will then perform only those deeds which he would have done in the presence of the Lord; for, indeed he feels the Lord’s live presence with him at all times.
His interaction with every being of the world represents the Lord’s special test for him. He will behave with them as he would have done in the presence of his Lord. In this way, he will gradually become an image of the Lord Himself.
