among streams.[242] Of created things I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna.  I am the knowledge of Supreme Spirit among all kinds of knowledge, and the disputation among disputants.[243] Among all letters I am the letter A, and (the compound called) Dwanda among all compounds.  I am also Time Eternal, and I am the Ordainer with face turned on every side.[244] I am Death that seizeth all, and the source of all, that is to be.  Among females, I am Fame, Fortune, Speech, Memory, Intelligence, Constancy, Forgiveness.  Of the Sama hymns, I am the Vrihat-sama and Gayatri among metres.  Of the months, I am Margasirsha, of the seasons (I am) that which is productive of flowers.[245] I am the game of dice of them that cheat, and the splendour of those that are splendid.  I am Victory, I am Exertion, I am the goodness of the good.  I am Vasudeva among the Vrishnis, I am Dhananjaya among the sons of Pandu.  I am even Vyasa among the ascetics, and Usanas among seers.  I am the Rod of those that chastise, I am the Policy of those that seek victory.  I am silence among those that are secret.  I am the Knowledge of those that are possessed of Knowledge.  That which is the Seed of all things, I am that, O Arjuna.  There is nothing mobile or immobile, which can exist without me.  There is no end, O chastiser of foes, of my divine perfections.  This recital of the extent of (those) perfections hath been uttered by me by way (only) of instancing them.  Whatever of exalted things (there is) or glorious, or strong, understand thou that everything is born of a portion of my energy.  Or rather, what hast thou to do, by knowing all this in detail, O Arjuna?  Supporting this entire universe with only a portion (of myself), I stand.[246]”

Section XXXV [(Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI)]

“Arjuna said,—­’This discourse about the supreme mystery, called Adhyatman, which thou hast uttered for my welfare, hath dispelled my delusion.[247] For I have heard at large from thee of the creation and dissolution of beings, O thou of eyes like lotus petals, and also of thy greatness that knoweth no deterioration.  What thou hast said about thyself, O great Lord, is even so.  O best of Male Beings, I desire to behold thy sovereign form.  If, O Lord, thou thinkest that I am competent to behold that (form), then, O Lord of mystic power, show me thy eternal Self.[248]’

“The Holy One said, ’Behold, O son of Pritha, my forms by hundreds and thousands, various, divine, diverse in hue and shape.  Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Aswins, and the Maruts.  Behold, O Bharata, innumerable marvels unseen before (by thee).  Behold, O thou of curly hair, the entire universe of mobiles and immobiles, collected together in this body of mine, whatever else thou mayst wish to see.[249] Thou art, however, not competent to behold me with this eye of thine.  I give thee celestial sight.  Behold my sovereign mystic nature.’”