Bhagavad-gītā 10.35

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

बृहत्साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसामहम् ।
मासानां मार्गशीर्षोऽहमृतूनां कुसुमाकरः ॥३५॥

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ
gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo 'ham
ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ

Word for word (synonyms)

bṛhat-sāma
the *Bṛhat-sāma*
tathā
also
sāmnām
of the *Sāma-veda* song
gāyatrī
the Gāyatrī hymns
chandasām
of all poetry
aham
I am
māsānām
of months
mārga-śīrṣo 'ham
the month of November-December
aham
I am
ṛtūnām
of all seasons
kusumākaraḥ
spring

Translation

Of hymns I am the Bṛhat-sāma sung to the Lord Indra, and of poetry I am the Gāyatrī verse, sung daily by brāhmaṇas. Of months I am November and December, and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.

Defined in the Gītā

Brāhmaṇa

What are the qualities of a brāhmaṇa?

Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.

Bhagavad-gītā 18.42

See the definition

Purport

Other scriptures cited in this purport: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

It has already been explained by the Lord that amongst all the Vedas, the Sāma-veda is rich with beautiful songs played by the various demigods.

One of these songs is the Bṛhat-sāma, which has an exquisite melody and is sung at midnight.

In Sanskrit, there are definite rules that regulate poetry; rhyme and meter are not written whimsically, as in much modern poetry. Amongst the regulated poetry, the Gāyatrī mantra, which is chanted by the duly qualified brāhmaṇas, is the most prominent. The Gāyatrī mantra is mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Because the Gāyatrī mantra is especially meant for God realization, it represents the Supreme Lord. This mantra is meant for spiritually advanced people, and when one attains success in chanting it, he can enter into the transcendental position of the Lord. One must first acquire the qualities of the perfectly situated person, the qualities of goodness according to the laws of material nature, in order to chant the Gāyatrī mantra. The Gāyatrī mantra is very important in Vedic civilization and is considered to be the sound incarnation of Brahman. Brahmā is its initiator, and it is passed down from him in disciplic succession.

The months of November and December are considered the best of all months because in India grains are collected from the fields at this time, and the people become very happy. Of course spring is a season universally liked because it is neither too hot nor too cold, and the flowers and trees blossom and flourish. In spring there are also many ceremonies commemorating Kṛṣṇa's pastimes; therefore this is considered to be the most joyful of all seasons, and it is the representative of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.

What this verse teaches

Various opulences of Kṛṣṇa (See the table)

Kṛṣṇa's opulences: "Among … I am …" Full table
Verse AmongI am
10.35 hymns the Bṛhat-sāma
10.35 poetry the Gāyatrī verse
10.35 months November and December
10.35 seasons flower-bearing spring

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.